Rulings by two federal judges, acting independent of each other, that the Trump administration must fund food assistance programs could mean a reprieve for the 131,891 people in San Joaquin County who depend on the benefits to ward off hunger every month.
Funding for California’s CalFresh program, known nationally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, was set to expire starting Saturday with the November monthly allowance, which is added directly to recipient’s debit cards.
Though it had emergency funds at hand, the administration contended it could not release them as part of the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 31st day.
The judges, one in Massachusetts and the other in Rhode Island, ordered Friday that the funds — about $8 billion a month — be released as soon as possible. It is yet to be seen, however, how soon debit cards can be reloaded or whether the administration will appeal the rulings.
SNAP and CalFresh, programs that superseded what used to be known as food stamps, serve one in eight Americans.
San Joaquin County and local food banks were braced for an onslaught of people arriving in search of food for their families. Food banks were already feeling the pressure as families showed up in advance of the cutoff.
Stockton’s Emergency Food Bank, one of two major food banks in the city, has reported a sharp rise in needy people showing up for food.
“Our weekday drive-thru distribution line has risen from about 450 vehicles a day to more than 550,” Community Relations Manager Alesha Pichler told Stocktonia. “The food bank is operating at full capacity.”
The food bank is open from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and continues to seek donations to deal with the added demand. “We are reaching out to local warehouses, distribution centers, local growers, retailers, and the community for donations,” Pichler added.
The county had also been trying to prepare for the expected onslaught of demand ahead of the cutoff. It was also directing people to food banks and organizations providing free meals.
Contributing: Associated Press