Local and state officials gathered outside the Alameda County Administration Building in Oakland on Friday to announce their plans to help residents acquire food after most federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits remain frozen during the government shutdown.
County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas provided the emergency phone number 510-635-3663 and the website foodnow.net to help residents find the nearest available food bank. She said over $1.5 million was raised for immediate distribution to food banks in Alameda County, while an additional $8.3 million from the county’s funds from the 2020 sales tax Measure W are being processed for more aid.
“Food is a human right. No one should go hungry, and we as leaders and food justice organizations are here to say, we have your back,” Fortunato Bas said. “We will not let you, your family, your others, go hungry.”…