With federal funding for SNAP benefits this month still delayed due to the government shutdown — and its status uncertain thanks to changing statements from the Trump administration — Bay Area food banks have been left scrambling to meet increased demand and a situation constantly in flux.
Bay Area food banks told the Chronicle that they have seen a surge in demand, both for food itself and to their websites, as people who are eligible for CalFresh, the state’s SNAP program, did not receive their monthly benefits this week.
“This is a significant rise in people needing help, and we’re seeing growing demand each day,” said Rachelle Mesheau, a spokesperson for the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which serves people in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties…