The Brief
- Contra Costa County on Wednesday announced emergency funding to help residents who rely on CalFresh to buy food.
- CalFresh receives funding from the federal government, but those payments have been halted amid the ongoing government shutdown.
- Over 100,000 Contra Costa County residents rely on the program, over half of whom are children or older adults.
RICHMOND, Calif. – CalFresh recipients in Contra Costa County will, starting Monday, be able to get debit cards to cover the cost of groceries while their benefits are on hold.
Kalona Foster relies on the $700 a month she receives in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called CalFresh in California) benefits, but the ongoing federal government shutdown has paused payments to the program, and left her scrambling to cover the cost of food. During a recent visit to the county social services office in Richmond she learned the county is taking steps to help her and other CalFresh recipients.
“People need to eat. I am thankful they are doing that. They should. I buy vegetables, meat, and lunch for my daughter she takes to school with the SNAP benefits,” Foster said.…