""It's dire. It's awful. I also volunteer at a homeless community, and they're scared to death. They get two meals a day, and they live on their SNAP benefits," Franklin said. "They're saying they're just so afraid. 'What do we do now? You only get 10 meals a week, and this is running out.' I'm seeing that on the ground.""
"The nonprofit is a food recovery organization serving Contra Costa County. It gets fresh food daily from places like Whole Foods and Trader Joes and delivers it to around 110 nonprofits to distribute. Leaders say they are already seeing longer lines at food distribution sites countywide and anticipate the need to grow. Mary Franklin has volunteered at White Pony Express for around six years, helping to sort the incoming food."
"White Pony Express said it's always accepting donations, but through Nov. 30, it's calling on community members who are able to double down on those donations. "We're inviting everybody to help us to bring food, to bring their time, to bring their donations," Birge said. The nonprofit is asking for protein-rich items, like canned tuna, chicken, salmon, nut butters, beans, lentils, shelf-stable milk, canned soups, chili and other shelf-stable foods."
White Pony Express is expanding operations in Contra Costa County to respond to a likely lapse in SNAP benefits caused by the government shutdown. The nonprofit recovers fresh food daily from retailers like Whole Foods and Trader Joes and distributes to about 110 nonprofits. Staff and volunteers report longer lines at distribution sites and growing fear among people who rely on SNAP for most meals. The organization warns that roughly 110,000 households could lose benefits and is requesting increased donations and volunteer time through Nov. 30, especially protein-rich and shelf-stable items.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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