Over 93,000 Long Beach residents who rely on CalFresh benefits are left wondering when they will receive their benefits as a result of the ongoing government shutdown, which at the time of publishing is in its 36th day.

After two federal judges ruled that freezing the country’s largest anti-hunger program is unlawful, President Donald Trump announced that SNAP benefits would be restored, but recipients will only get half of their regular payment, and it is unclear when benefits will be loaded. The administration also announced that no newly certified residents will receive their payments.

Nationwide, this means over 42 million people are unexpectedly left without the money they use to purchase food.

Locally, Long Beach nonprofits and businesses have stepped up to help feed their neighbors. Those who are fortunate enough to not be impacted by the situation have plenty of opportunities to support their community. The Signal Tribune has compiled a list of Long Beach food drives, fundraisers and ongoing volunteer needs from those doing the work to meet the ongoing food needs.

This is an ongoing list that will be updated. If you have a fundraiser, food drive or volunteer opportunity, please send the information to Newspaper@SignalTribune.com or to our Instagram @signaltribune.

Michael Remley, who has been volunteering with Food Finders for ten years, taps a produce box filled with donated veggies into place in the back of his truck on the morning of Sept. 23, 2022. The food he is procuring is bound for the Long Beach Senior Center and will mostly be used up the day it’s delivered. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Date-Specific

AOC7 Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway: The Anaheim Street, Orange Avenue, Cherry Avenue and 7th Street neighborhood organization (AOC7) needs volunteers for its sixth annual Thanksgiving meal giveaway on Nov. 15 at MacArthur Park (1321 Anaheim St.) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Volunteers can sign up at this link

AOC7 will share a link for families to register to receive a meal through its Instagram @aocseven next week.

Tattoo Thanksgiving Food Drive: Bixby Knolls Tattoo (4332 Atlantic Ave.) is hosting a food drive to gather canned or non-perishable foods. Visitors can bring $30 worth of food (receipt required) to receive $30 off their tattoo on Nov. 7.

Book Nook Food Drive: Book Nook of Long Beach is hosting this fun and free community event to gather food and donations for neighbors on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Qargo Coffee (707 E. Ocean Blvd.). People can donate either five non-perishable food items, gift cards to supermarkets or make a monetary donation and will receive a raffle ticket in return for the chance to win prizes.

Recreational Coffee Food Drive: Residents can bring shelf-stable foods, hygiene products, water bottles, undergarments, gloves, socks and pet food to Recreational Coffee (237 Long Beach Blvd. Suite A) for neighbors in need. Beginning the week of Nov. 10, residents can come and collect whatever they need from these donations every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. The shop also hopes to provide free meals soon. More information on meals will be provided through their instagram @recreationalcoffee.

Long Beach Community Table: To raise money to feed residents throughout the week, Long Beach Community Table is teaming up with Bushfire Kitchen (4610 E. PCH) for an all-day fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents who dine in or order online with the code LBCT115 at checkout will send 20% of their bill to Long Beach Community Table, but only if at least 20 people take part in the fundraiser.

Long Beach Community Table volunteers pack food boxes for distribution at the Bellflower warehouse in November 2021. (Courtesy Long Beach Community Table)

Ongoing

Care Culture Collaborative: This downtown-focused mutual aid group distributes food to unhoused neighbors and anyone else who needs it every Saturday, beginning at Kim Long Market (324 Anaheim St.) at 12:30 p.m. They also accept monetary donations to help purchase hygiene products, water, utensils, hydration packets and more.

Long Beach Community Table: With food distributions and drop-offs almost every day of the week throughout the city, this nonprofit is in need of monetary donations, food donations, hygiene products, delivery drivers, park and encampment food distributors and warehouse volunteers.

Food donations can be dropped off at 3311 E. 59th St. during open pantry hours, on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., on Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

Monetary donations can be given at bit.ly/give-lbct.

To get involved, email Kristen at LBCTVolunteers@gmail.com.

Food Finders: As one of the city’s largest food distributors, this nonprofit is ramping up its schedule to meet community needs. As a result, monetary donations, food donations and volunteers for sorting, distribution and grocery delivery are in high demand.

Food donations can be dropped off at any of the Long Beach public libraries or Trademark Brewing. If a business wants to host their own food drive, collection bins and signs are available by contacting Mark Eden 462-283-1400 ext. 117.

Those interested in volunteering can visit foodfinders.org/volunteer/ or contact Stephen Gomez at 562-283-1400 ext. 112. Volunteers need to fill out an online form, then can choose between the weekly distributions, food pick-up routes, grocery delivery and more.

Monetary donations can be made here.

The City of Long Beach and the Nonprofit Partnership has started the Food Access Fund to support local nonprofits feeding the community. Donations will be distributed to nonprofits that complete an interest form on a weekly basis, the Nonprofit Partnership told the Signal Tribune.

Don’t see a volunteer opportunity near you? Long Beach Fresh has a map of food banks, pantries and nonprofits throughout the city that residents can contact to see if they need help.

If you have a fundraiser, food drive or volunteer opportunity, please send the information to Newspaper@SignalTribune.com or to our Instagram @signaltribune.