If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, visit Long Beach Fresh’s online food map, Care Culture Collaborative’s directory organized by days of the week or ÓRALE’s directory organized by zip code and specifically verified for the safety of immigrants and their families. Long Beach Forward also has a list of food banks, hot meals and pantries throughout the city.
In late October, when it became clear the government shutdown had no clear end in sight, local food banks and pantries began preparing for the possibility that critical food assistance might be in jeopardy.
Over 5 million Californians rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and one in five Long Beach residents use the California version named CalFresh. News that people would not receive their full benefits in November sparked a 23-statewide lawsuit. As of Friday morning, some people have reported their card being loaded with full benefits, after Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered the administration to fully reinstate the program for November.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture immediately appealed the judge’s ruling, throwing uncertainty into the situation. It’s unclear how much of the regular CalFresh benefits people are getting or when, leaving many families reliant on local food pantries.
To help keep refrigerators and cupboards stocked, private donors and organizations have poured tens of thousands into Long Beach’s food banks. Los Angeles County also signed a $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to help them purchase more groceries and open additional pop-ups.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank sends much of their purchased food to smaller pantries, meaning many Long Beach pantries will benefit from this.
Residents have also stepped up to help their neighbors by donating, hosting food drives or volunteering at their local food bank.
“People always show up when they’re needed,” said Diana Lara, executive director of Food Finder.
Since SNAP benefits are government-funded, the Signal Tribune wanted to know: What are our local governments doing to fill this gap?
What has Long Beach done?
Over 93,000 residents in Long Beach are waiting to see when or if they will get their SNAP benefits. On Oct. 30, Mayor Rex Richardson convened a meeting with City staff and the Nonprofit Partnership to discuss how to support the city’s food banks.
Long Beach announced Monday that it had launched the Food Access Fund to help support the city’s many nonprofits, food banks and pantries providing meals and groceries to those losing their benefits. As of Nov. 6, the fund has raised $6,075 through 54 donations.
The plan is for donations to go directly to local food pantries each week, a spokesperson from the Nonprofit Partnership told the Signal Tribune. Food banks and pantries that want to receive donations from the Food Access Fund have to fill out an interest form through Long Beach Gives, which will then be vetted by the City.
It’s unclear when the first round of funding will be distributed, the Nonprofit Partnership said, and as of Nov. 6 the interest form is not online yet.
The agency acknowledged that residents might have a local food bank they donate to, and said they should keep making direct donations.
What Has Signal Hill Done?
Signal Hill does not track the number of residents it has enrolled in CalFresh, according to City Manager Carlo Tomaino. Nineteen percent of children within the city live in poverty, while 14% of the city’s seniors are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census.
Since the announcement that low-income Americans would not be receiving their usual food assistance in November, Signal Hill has not seen a “significant increase” in people requesting grocery assistance, Tomaino said. As a result, the City has not announced any additional support or programs for people losing SNAP.
The City has two programs to help residents with food costs: the Family Food Distribution Program and the Senior Brown Bag Program.
Families in need of food assistance can apply for the Family Food Distribution Program to receive a $75 voucher each month to the Mother’s Nutritional Center for groceries.
Low-income seniors 55 years or older in need of groceries can apply for the Brown Bag Program. Those who are able to pick up food can receive boxes of food such as poultry, fresh produce and canned or shelf-stable foods. Seniors who are unable to leave their home can receive meals two or three times per week from Meals on Wheels.
Applications for both programs can be filled out either online or at the Parks, Recreation and Library Services Department, located inside the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Both applications require proof of residence in Signal Hill, income verification (W2 or two check stubs within the last 60 days) and a photo ID.
This article was updated on Nov. 7 to include Judge McConnell’s ruling and reports of some people receiving full SNAP benefits as of Friday morning.
Samantha Diaz
Managing Editor
Samantha is an award-winning journalist, sports fanatic and mother. She’s worked for the Signal Tribune for over three years and is passionate about covering environmental news, small businesses, mutual aid efforts and resources.
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