Central Valley leaders call for residents to donate to food bank amid SNAP uncertainty

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Local leaders say there’s still a lot of uncertainty in the air when it comes to SNAP benefits amid the government shutdown. This comes after two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funding to continue providing SNAP benefits to beneficiaries around the country

Friday, one day before what was supposed to be a scheduled pause of regular SNAP benefits being distributed, they made a bipartisan call for an end to the shutdown, and ultimately, that uncertainty for Central Valley families.

“In the richest nation in the world, it is absolutely unconscionable that we not provide food to every segment of our society and to every person in America,” said Democratic Congressman Jim Costa.

If those funds are withheld, Central California Food Bank CEO Natalie Caples says filling the gap would be an extreme challenge.

“Every one meal that Central California Food Bank distributes through our programming or through our member partners, SNAP provides nine,” Caples said. “In the long term, we cannot fill the gap that roughly $123 million in monthly benefits will leave in our communities.”

Even with the federal orders, it’s unclear when or if those benefits could be released.

“Plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Fresno’s Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

That planning process is something Dyer and the city are helping with, as they aim to provide $250,000 to the Central California food bank pending a vote by the Fresno City Council on Nov. 6.

A donation, sparked by an initial $50,000 commitment from Fresno Councilmember Nelson Esparza.

“After that commitment, I went over to the mayor. He was standing in the chambers, and I said, ‘We got to do something. We got to do something bigger. I’m gonna do this, but we got to amplify it. We got to reach more people,'” Esparza said.

Dyer, meanwhile, left a message to the public that even more help will be needed, and that they can play a role.

“I’m also calling on the people of Fresno and throughout the valley to really step up, just as all of you did during the pandemic, and to provide funding to our food bank and to our non-profits that serve our most vulnerable populations,” Dyer said.

Click here to donate to the Central California Food Bank.