Irene Wong, CEO of the Palo Alto Community Fund; Taryl Jackson, Foundation Philanthropy Manager; Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley; and Michael Balliet, Deputy Director of the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, share a moment of collegiality following a discussion on food insecurity and community health.
Responding to SNAP Delays
Collaboration, Action, and Community Care
Across our region, many households rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; called CalFresh in California) to help put food on the table. Undoubtedly, you heard reports detailing the impacts of the federal government shutdown on SNAP. For thousands of eligible households, benefits that normally arrive on a predictable monthly schedule were delayed, creating sudden strain for families and seniors who rely on those funds to meet basic needs.
As the situation was unfolding, PACF joined fellow philanthropies, including Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Packard Foundation, Sobrato Philanthropies, The Health Trust, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and others, in meeting with county leaders in both Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties to understand the scope of the delays and the anticipated impact on vulnerable households. With insight from those conversations and from grantees with on-the-ground reports, PACF committed Cammie Vail Community Resilience Grant funding to several organizations, including St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room, the Ecumenical Hunger Program, and Fresh Approach, ensuring they are supported as they continue to distribute nutritious and culturally relevant foods.
While processing times for SNAP benefits have begun to stabilize, the situation highlighted how quickly local needs can change and how critical flexible support is in times of disruption. It also underscored the importance of preparation. Beginning next month, new federal work requirements for SNAP eligibility are expected to reduce access to benefits, especially for older adults and caregivers. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 2.4 million people nationally may lose benefits over the next decade.
Local organizations are already planning for what may be a sustained increase in need. PACF remains in close communication with these partners and fellow funders as we continue to monitor the impacts and stand ready to support the stability of the local food safety net, ensuring our nonprofit partners are resourced, and no neighbor is left behind.