United Ways and 211 Are Supporting Their Communities as SNAP Disruption Impacts 5.5 Million Californians
Nov. 13 Update: The federal government shutdown has ended with a bill that includes SNAP funding through September 2026. It’s important to note that H.R. 1, which was passed in July, includes cuts to SNAP benefits that will have detrimental effects on our communities in the coming year.
Millions of Americans—including more than five million Californians—will not receive their SNAP (CalFresh in California) food assistance payments beginning November 1, and it is unclear when funds will be released.
This is going to be really hard on many people in our communities, including households with seniors and children as well as local businesses that rely on purchases made with SNAP funds.
“We know from our work every day that communities struggled with food insecurity even before the government shutdown,” said Josh Dickson, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy for United Way Worldwide, before SNAP payments were frozen. “This moment exacerbates existing needs that we are working urgently to address. We are already seeing an increase in calls to the 211 network — the three-digit, free helpline that connects people to local health and human services — which is a clear sign that many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet. When essential supports like SNAP face potential disruption, the ripple effects can be immediate and go beyond the short-term, impacting not just those who rely on this support but all communities nationwide.”
While it is not sustainable for state and local governments, food pantries, other nonprofits, philanthropies, or individuals to entirely fill the gaps SNAP leaves, United Ways and 211 are joining these groups in mobilizing to support their communities as best they can.
United Way Is Filling Gaps
“It seems like every day the needs just become more and more pressing,” United Way Worldwide President and CEO Angela F. Williams told the LA Times. “My hope is that people from all sectors will step up and say, ‘How can we be good neighbors?’”
United Ways across the state and country are modeling this by:
- Connecting community members to food assistance resources through 211 and communications vehicles
- Collecting or purchasing food to distribute in their communities
- Bringing together agency partners to work collaboratively and efficiently
- Updating 211 food bank data regularly to avoid sending people to organizations that don’t actually have any food available
- Keeping their communities informed about benefit disruptions and community resources
- Providing additional funding to local food banks
- Mobilizing community members to advocate for continuation of SNAP and WIC funding distribution
- And so much more
211 is committed to helping those in our community impacted by the federal government shutdown and SNAP freeze. Impacted individuals can call 211 to get help navigating resources and benefits that might be available to them. In 2024, 211 in California provided more than 200,000 referrals for food assistance, and that number will undoubtedly soar in 2025, as we’re already seeing a tremendous uptick across the state. It’s important to understand, however, that 211 can only refer community members to resources that are available.
Sustainability Means SNAP
For every one meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides nine. When asked, “How long is this sustainable?”, Jill Dixon, Executive Director of The Food Depot, a New Mexico food bank, said, “It’s not. It won’t be, from the first day.”
States (including California), counties, cities, nonprofits, and individuals are stepping up to help fill the gap, but this work just cannot offset the impact of SNAP payment disruption in even the short term. This will have big financial and human implications on our entire country.
“People really don’t understand the scale and scope of what is happening and the ripple effect it will have on the economy and with people just meeting their basic needs,” United Way Worldwide President and CEO Angela F. Williams told the LA Times. “There’s a critical crisis that has been brewing for a while, and it’s reaching a fevered pitch.”
The federal government must restore SNAP funds and protect WIC funds from expiring. Our communities are counting on them.
Sign this letter to urge your congressmembers to protect SNAP and WIC.
If you or someone you know is in need of resources during the government shutdown or SNAP freeze, contact 211 or visit 211CA.org (California) or 211.org (National).
