County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe  joined members of San Diego’s Congressional Delegation and leaders from Feeding San Diego and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank today to deliver an urgent message:

CalFresh benefits will not be reloaded on Friday, November 1, because the federal government shutdown has halted new funding for food assistance nationwide.

Families who depend on CalFresh (known federally as SNAP or EBT) will need to stretch any remaining balance on their cards and use local food resources until federal benefits resume.

“No one should find out at the grocery store that their benefits didn’t reload,” Chair Lawson-Remer said. "Republicans in Congress' failure to fund the government will mean thousands of San Diego families will have to start thinking about where their next meals will come from. We’re coordinating with local partners to ensure we are meeting these food insecurity needs — and we’re asking our community to step up for one another.”

"The reality is that mothers, children, veterans, and seniors will bear the greatest impact of SNAP delays," said Vice Chair Montgomery Steppe. "Together with our federal and community partners, we remain committed to clear communication and decisive action to support residents through this period of uncertainty."

What Residents Need to Know

• EBT/CalFresh cards will not be reloaded on Nov 1 due to the federal shutdown. Balances from prior months remain usable.
• Starting today you can call 211 or visit 211sandiego.org for immediate information on food resources, food banks and community pantries near you.
• Check your EBT balance by calling the number on the back of your card.
• Visit sdcounty.gov/calfresh and benefitscal.com for updates as the federal situation changes.
• The County’s Customer Service Center (1-866-262-9881) will be open Saturday, Nov 1, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to answer questions and connect residents with food resources.

During today’s press conference, County staff also provided a live demonstration of how to navigate the 211 San Diego website to locate nearby food pantries and meal sites. 

“Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 200 languages, ready to connect people to local food banks, pantries, and meal programs, said Bill York, CEO of 2-1-1. “Anyone in need can simply call 2-1-1 to speak with a trained specialist — or visit 211SanDiego.org.

Federal and State Response

The State of California has deployed the National Guard and released emergency funding to support food banks. San Diego’s Congressional Delegation joined today’s event to press for immediate federal action to end the shutdown and restore CalFresh funding.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I know how these programs are funded and how USDA’s backup funds are structured,” said Rep. Levin. "Congress set aside about $6 billion in emergency reserves for exactly this kind of crisis—to make sure families can still buy food during a shutdown. That money is sitting at USDA right now. The Department has the legal authority to use it. And a shutdown is clearly an emergency. Refusing to use that money when tens of millions of people are counting on it is indefensible.”

“This is the first time in American history that a president has cut off SNAP during a shutdown, including Trump in his first term,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “Let me be clear, Trump has the funds and the legal authority to keep SNAP going next month. He is choosing not to. This is a moral failure, and we are urging the president to reverse course on this disgusting decision.”

Local nonprofits report a sharp rise in demand since the shutdown began.

“The CalFresh benefit delay is a crisis for nearly 400,000 San Diegans who rely on this vital support to feed their families,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “We’re already seeing a surge in demand across our network, and we anticipate a shortfall of up to 16 million meals in November alone. The Food Bank is mobilizing emergency resources to meet this unprecedented need, but we can’t do it alone. We’re calling on our community to step up — whether it’s volunteering, donating, or hosting a virtual food drive. Together, we can ensure no one in San Diego County goes hungry.”

“We are already seeing the impact of the shutdown. Food distributions are up dramatically—over 75,000 pounds above our normal levels in just 11 days, says Robert Kamensky, CEO of Feeding San Diego. That number will climb as nearly 400,000 San Diegans lose access to their CalFresh benefits on November 1. This is a crisis of access; supply is available, and our network is mobilized to meet the need.”

How the Community Can Help

• Volunteer: Feeding San Diego and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank are seeking volunteers to help sort and pack food, assemble boxes for seniors and children, and support local food distributions.
  • Volunteers must register in advance and wear closed-toed shoes.
  • Ages 16+ may volunteer independently; ages 11–15 may volunteer with an adult. Sign up or donate a feedingsandiego.org/get-involved/volunteer  or sandiegofoodbank.org/volunteer .
• Host a Virtual Food Drive: The Food Bank’s Virtual Food Drive lets individuals, companies, and community groups team up to help the Food Bank secure high-demand items like canned proteins, vegetables, and cereal in bulk/

Share Information: Spread the word about 211 San Diego and local food resources so families know where to find help.