"When the federal government announced a suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in late October, millions of Americans were left wondering how they would afford their next meal. Among those most affected are the estimated 5.5 million Californians who rely on CalFresh, the state's version of SNAP, for food security. In Contra Costa County, the Concord-based nonprofit White Pony Express (WPE) is stepping up in a major way,"
"When I learned the federal government was suspending SNAP benefits, I felt shock and disbelief, followed by resolve, said Eve Birge, WPE's chief executive officer. You don't leave families without a lifeline and hope this calamity sorts itself out. Within hours of the announcement, Birge said her team went into emergency response mode. We identified the public pantries we serve that we knew would be seeing longer lines, rerouted additional food to these pantries,"
Federal suspension of SNAP benefits in late October left millions uncertain about food access, including an estimated 5.5 million Californians who rely on CalFresh. White Pony Express in Contra Costa County launched one of its largest emergency responses, initiating a countywide food drive running through Nov. 30 and urging residents, schools, faith groups and businesses to donate shelf-stable food and funds. The organization rerouted additional food to public pantries, added rapid-response pick-ups and distributions, and prioritized pantries expected to see longer lines. California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis visited the Concord headquarters and joined the Food Security Collaborative partners in highlighting the impact.
Read at www.eastbaytimes.com
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