Central California Food Bank CEO sounds the alarm as situation grows dire

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California is the latest authorities to dependable the alarm arsenic implicit 5 cardinal SNAP recipients are astatine hazard of not receiving benefits opening arsenic soon arsenic November 1, arsenic Capitol Hill remains astatine a standstill.

"About 720,000 individuals successful the five-county work country that we service that trust connected SNAP to beryllium capable to spell to the market store, acquisition steadfast nutrient and provender their families during the month," Central California Food Bank CEO Natalie Caples said. "There is simply a anticipation that SNAP benefits for those 720,000 individuals could beryllium delayed."

According to the Department of Social Services, the CalFresh Program, federally known arsenic the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly physics benefits that tin beryllium utilized to bargain astir foods astatine galore markets and nutrient stores.

New enrollees would consciousness the delays of those benefits immediately.

"That would mean those individuals nary longer person entree to their benefits to acquisition food, and they'll apt trust connected our subordinate partners oregon our programming to beryllium capable to provender their families," Caples said.

The Fresno County Department of Social Services estimates astir $46 cardinal successful section CalFresh benefits could vanish if the shutdown is not resolved by October 23.

"We'll person immoderate fiscal resources disposable done the authorities government, but what we truly request is nutrient present present to beryllium capable to respond to the need," Caples said.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced helium volition deploy the California National Guard, acting not arsenic instrumentality enforcement but alternatively carrying retired a humanitarian mission.

Troops are being sent to bolster enactment for authorities nutrient banks during the ongoing authorities shutdown.

At the Central California Food Bank, it hopes to beryllium capable to proceed offering Groceries-2-Go, an appointment-based pickup programme wherever those successful request tin person a container of shelf-stable food, including indispensable items from eggs to macromolecule to caller produce.

Linda Harris has volunteered with the nutrient slope for the past six years and has seen the request alteration passim the shifting governmental climate.

"There are much bare people, there's nary question astir it," Harris said. "With backing being chopped and radical successful need, there's conscionable much nutrient having to spell retired the door."

The Central California Food Bank says it is not apt it volition utilize the nationalist defender to supplement its unpaid workforce unless there's a heightened request it can't conscionable successful real-time.

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