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"content": "\u003cp>Navigating an application for benefits like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/calfresh\">CalFresh\u003c/a> can be complicated — especially when you’re doing it without support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This month, San Francisco is attempting to address some of these bureaucratic barriers by launching a new \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/mobile-benefits-center\">Mobile Benefits Center\u003c/a>, the first of its kind in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Human Services Agency’s Mobile Benefits Center — think of a city office on wheels — will be driven to neighborhoods throughout the city by SFHSA staff who can help city residents apply for benefits without having to physically visit a government office or service center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At an event to announce the service truck in late April, city officials noted that San Francisco’s southern and south-eastern neighborhoods — where many low-income residents live — \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/about/announcements/san-francisco-human-services-agency-launches-mobile-benefits-center\">do not have a dedicated service center,\u003c/a> making it difficult for people to make time to travel, apply for or renew benefits. This especially impacts residents who may have mobility issues or do not have the financial means to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center also aims to support older adults and immigrants who may prefer to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">have in-person support when navigating bureaucratic procedures like this.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086392\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086392\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Mobile Benefits Center from San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, which will be driven to different neighborhoods around the city. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of SFHSA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Starting in June, the truck will be visiting the parking lots or spaces of partnering community-based organizations in different neighborhoods, SFHSA program specialist Kyle Lei said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hopefully, the travel time — and also the financial aspect — is decreased” for residents who need to apply for benefits, Lei said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center “allows services and benefits to come to where communities are,” said Mariela Donis, associate director with the No Kid Hungry campaign in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#WhencanIvisittheMobileBenefitsCenter\">When can I visit the Mobile Benefits Center?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“This type of vehicle is a lot less intimidating, especially to immigrant communities,” Donis said. “We’re hopeful that through partnerships with other trusted community organizations, including school districts, this truck would allow for more access to benefits.”[aside postID=news_12083922 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg']The Mobile Benefits Center will come at a time when access to benefits like CalFresh has gotten more complicated and riddled with paperwork.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to the passing of H.R. 1 or the so-called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910533/what-the-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-california\">“One Big Beautiful Bill\u003c/a>,” California began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">enforcing new and expanded federal guidelines\u003c/a> this month that require some CalFresh recipients to work 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month — with a stark reduction in food benefits for those who don’t fulfill the requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re seeing in other states’ data just devastating drops in the SNAP caseload,” Andrew Cheyne, managing director at the County Welfare Directors Association, said to KQED last month. “Not because people are ineligible. Not because they are getting good jobs with good wages. But because of the inability to navigate the red tape that Congress enacted in H.R. 1.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect from San Francisco’s Mobile Benefits Center — including where to actually find it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What services can I access at the Mobile Benefits Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The center will support applications and renewals for services like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) and CalWORKs, Lei said\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/mobile-benefits-center\">the city’s website\u003c/a>, the Mobile Benefits Center will also focus on submitting documents on behalf of residents and verifying eligibility, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">troubleshooting\u003c/a> applications and connecting with resources like childcare, employment support and referral services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eligible residents can also have their Electronic Benefits (EBT) card immediately printed inside the vehicle and handed to them, so that they can start receiving funds onto it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will visiting the Mobile Benefits Center in person be like?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center is shaped like a compact food truck, or even an ice cream truck. The vehicle can fit around five to six people at most — including employees — so you might not be able to enter straightaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086394\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086394\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Human Services Agency staff in the Mobile Benefits Center will be able to help city residents apply in person for different benefits. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of SFHSA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While each event may look different, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">materials for prospective organizations\u003c/a>, residents will be asked to stay in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">“comfortable waiting area that includes easy access to a restroom”\u003c/a> and then enter the truck once their turn is up, for privacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also a window where employees can speak through to residents standing outside the truck.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhencanIvisittheMobileBenefitsCenter\">\u003c/a>When can I visit the Mobile Benefits Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first Mobile Benefits Center stop will focus on applying for CalFresh and will be on Wednesday, June 10, at \u003ca href=\"https://campusrec.sfsu.edu/MWC\">SFSU’s Mashouf Wellness Center\u003c/a> from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next stop will be on Saturday, July 11, at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/disabilityculturalcenter/\">San Francisco Disability Cultural Center\u003c/a> from 10:30 a.m. to noon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Residents can keep track of the next stop on the city’s website \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/mobile-benefits-center\">under MBC Events\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, community organizations, local groups and schools can request a visit from the Mobile Benefits Center \u003ca href=\"https://forms.office.com/g/DbEvxBRSfj\">using the city’s online form.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Navigating an application for benefits like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/calfresh\">CalFresh\u003c/a> can be complicated — especially when you’re doing it without support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This month, San Francisco is attempting to address some of these bureaucratic barriers by launching a new \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/mobile-benefits-center\">Mobile Benefits Center\u003c/a>, the first of its kind in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Human Services Agency’s Mobile Benefits Center — think of a city office on wheels — will be driven to neighborhoods throughout the city by SFHSA staff who can help city residents apply for benefits without having to physically visit a government office or service center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At an event to announce the service truck in late April, city officials noted that San Francisco’s southern and south-eastern neighborhoods — where many low-income residents live — \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/about/announcements/san-francisco-human-services-agency-launches-mobile-benefits-center\">do not have a dedicated service center,\u003c/a> making it difficult for people to make time to travel, apply for or renew benefits. This especially impacts residents who may have mobility issues or do not have the financial means to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center also aims to support older adults and immigrants who may prefer to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">have in-person support when navigating bureaucratic procedures like this.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086392\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086392\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-group-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Mobile Benefits Center from San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, which will be driven to different neighborhoods around the city. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of SFHSA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Starting in June, the truck will be visiting the parking lots or spaces of partnering community-based organizations in different neighborhoods, SFHSA program specialist Kyle Lei said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hopefully, the travel time — and also the financial aspect — is decreased” for residents who need to apply for benefits, Lei said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center “allows services and benefits to come to where communities are,” said Mariela Donis, associate director with the No Kid Hungry campaign in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#WhencanIvisittheMobileBenefitsCenter\">When can I visit the Mobile Benefits Center?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“This type of vehicle is a lot less intimidating, especially to immigrant communities,” Donis said. “We’re hopeful that through partnerships with other trusted community organizations, including school districts, this truck would allow for more access to benefits.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center will come at a time when access to benefits like CalFresh has gotten more complicated and riddled with paperwork.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to the passing of H.R. 1 or the so-called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910533/what-the-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-california\">“One Big Beautiful Bill\u003c/a>,” California began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">enforcing new and expanded federal guidelines\u003c/a> this month that require some CalFresh recipients to work 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month — with a stark reduction in food benefits for those who don’t fulfill the requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re seeing in other states’ data just devastating drops in the SNAP caseload,” Andrew Cheyne, managing director at the County Welfare Directors Association, said to KQED last month. “Not because people are ineligible. Not because they are getting good jobs with good wages. But because of the inability to navigate the red tape that Congress enacted in H.R. 1.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect from San Francisco’s Mobile Benefits Center — including where to actually find it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What services can I access at the Mobile Benefits Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The center will support applications and renewals for services like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) and CalWORKs, Lei said\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/mobile-benefits-center\">the city’s website\u003c/a>, the Mobile Benefits Center will also focus on submitting documents on behalf of residents and verifying eligibility, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">troubleshooting\u003c/a> applications and connecting with resources like childcare, employment support and referral services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eligible residents can also have their Electronic Benefits (EBT) card immediately printed inside the vehicle and handed to them, so that they can start receiving funds onto it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will visiting the Mobile Benefits Center in person be like?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Mobile Benefits Center is shaped like a compact food truck, or even an ice cream truck. The vehicle can fit around five to six people at most — including employees — so you might not be able to enter straightaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086394\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086394\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MBC-cube-stations-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Human Services Agency staff in the Mobile Benefits Center will be able to help city residents apply in person for different benefits. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of SFHSA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While each event may look different, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">materials for prospective organizations\u003c/a>, residents will be asked to stay in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-04/external_program_guide_hsa_mobile_benefits_center_4.20.26.pdf\">“comfortable waiting area that includes easy access to a restroom”\u003c/a> and then enter the truck once their turn is up, for privacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also a window where employees can speak through to residents standing outside the truck.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhencanIvisittheMobileBenefitsCenter\">\u003c/a>When can I visit the Mobile Benefits Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first Mobile Benefits Center stop will focus on applying for CalFresh and will be on Wednesday, June 10, at \u003ca href=\"https://campusrec.sfsu.edu/MWC\">SFSU’s Mashouf Wellness Center\u003c/a> from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next stop will be on Saturday, July 11, at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/disabilityculturalcenter/\">San Francisco Disability Cultural Center\u003c/a> from 10:30 a.m. to noon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Residents can keep track of the next stop on the city’s website \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/mobile-benefits-center\">under MBC Events\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, community organizations, local groups and schools can request a visit from the Mobile Benefits Center \u003ca href=\"https://forms.office.com/g/DbEvxBRSfj\">using the city’s online form.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Lurie Eyes $34 Million to Cushion HR 1 Blows to Medi-Cal and CalFresh",
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"content": "\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">CalFresh\u003c/a> recipients in San Francisco brace themselves for changes to their federal work and reporting requirements, effective June 1, Mayor Daniel Lurie plans to spend $34 million to help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump’s H.R. 1, or his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” added new work \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">requirements\u003c/a> with stricter enforcement, which will impact roughly 21,000 CalFresh and over 40,000 Medi-Cal recipients in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The updated requirements for CalFresh recipients begin in June, with Medi-Cal’s changes slated for January. Recipients who are aged 18 to 64 — and who do not live with a child under the age of 14 — will have to prove that they are completing at least 20 hours of work a week to continue receiving food and healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The upcoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">restrictions\u003c/a> will only apply to new CalFresh and Medi-Cal applicants. Current recipients in California will only be subject to these rules once they recertify their benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Lurie, who is currently working to balance the budget, proposed a way to cushion the blows posed by a more stringent federal guideline — setting aside $34 million for retaining staff that would help San Franciscans navigate the new measures necessary to continue receiving federal aid.[aside postID=news_12083922 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg']“While federal cuts make it harder for San Franciscans to access healthcare and put food on the table, this budget will protect our city’s social safety net and help residents stay on the benefits they rely on,” Lurie said in a statement on Thursday. Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, described the federal bill as death by bureaucracy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They ascribed all of these new requirements as a way to reduce the number of people who successfully receive healthcare through Obamacare,” Rhorer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He called it “a sinister approach to undoing one of the most successful domestic policy changes in the last four decades.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If passed, hiring for what Lurie estimated as over 150 staffers would not begin until July — once his budget passes through the Board of Supervisors. About half of those employees would work directly with clients to help them find jobs, navigate the paperwork processes and do monthly check-ins to confirm they’re working. The remainder will work as “employment training specialists” to help clients choose the right classes to level up their job skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rhorer said that as his team works to protect the Medi-Cal and CalFresh recipients at risk of losing coverage, this additional staffing will be necessary in helping “mitigate the harm to clients that the authors of H.R. 1 actually intend to occur.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">CalFresh\u003c/a> recipients in San Francisco brace themselves for changes to their federal work and reporting requirements, effective June 1, Mayor Daniel Lurie plans to spend $34 million to help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump’s H.R. 1, or his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” added new work \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">requirements\u003c/a> with stricter enforcement, which will impact roughly 21,000 CalFresh and over 40,000 Medi-Cal recipients in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The updated requirements for CalFresh recipients begin in June, with Medi-Cal’s changes slated for January. Recipients who are aged 18 to 64 — and who do not live with a child under the age of 14 — will have to prove that they are completing at least 20 hours of work a week to continue receiving food and healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The upcoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083922/calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps\">restrictions\u003c/a> will only apply to new CalFresh and Medi-Cal applicants. Current recipients in California will only be subject to these rules once they recertify their benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Lurie, who is currently working to balance the budget, proposed a way to cushion the blows posed by a more stringent federal guideline — setting aside $34 million for retaining staff that would help San Franciscans navigate the new measures necessary to continue receiving federal aid.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“While federal cuts make it harder for San Franciscans to access healthcare and put food on the table, this budget will protect our city’s social safety net and help residents stay on the benefits they rely on,” Lurie said in a statement on Thursday. Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, described the federal bill as death by bureaucracy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They ascribed all of these new requirements as a way to reduce the number of people who successfully receive healthcare through Obamacare,” Rhorer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He called it “a sinister approach to undoing one of the most successful domestic policy changes in the last four decades.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If passed, hiring for what Lurie estimated as over 150 staffers would not begin until July — once his budget passes through the Board of Supervisors. About half of those employees would work directly with clients to help them find jobs, navigate the paperwork processes and do monthly check-ins to confirm they’re working. The remainder will work as “employment training specialists” to help clients choose the right classes to level up their job skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rhorer said that as his team works to protect the Medi-Cal and CalFresh recipients at risk of losing coverage, this additional staffing will be necessary in helping “mitigate the harm to clients that the authors of H.R. 1 actually intend to occur.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "calfresh-snap-new-work-requirements-rules-2026-hr1-eligibility-who-is-exempt-food-stamps",
"title": "On CalFresh? What to Know About New June 1 Work Requirements",
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"headTitle": "On CalFresh? What to Know About New June 1 Work Requirements | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, California will begin enforcing new and expanded federal guidelines that require some CalFresh recipients to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">work 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month\u003c/a> — with a stark reduction in food benefits for those who don’t fulfill the requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Approximately \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5126\">5.5 million people\u003c/a> use CalFresh in California. And since 2020, California, like several other states, has exempted its residents from the federal government’s longstanding (and \u003ca href=\"https://frac.org/blog/history-shows-congress-should-end-snap-time-limits\">contentious) “time limit” policy\u003c/a>, which mandates that any Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who don’t meet federal work requirements can only receive three months of food benefits in three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now, due to H.R. 1 — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910533/what-the-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-california\">the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill\u003c/a>” authored by President Donald Trump’s administration — California’s ability to waive work requirements for the entire state has been limited to only seven counties, none of them in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The work requirements also now apply nationally to a wider range of people, including people up to 64 years old and parents with children 14 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083881/heres-what-newsoms-revised-budget-means-for-education-in-california\">Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget\u003c/a> released in May, the California Department of Social Services estimates that 2.6 million Californians will be subject to these work requirements starting June 1 — and that as many as 562,000 CalFresh users could ultimately lose access to their food benefits after the new time limit rules are put in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#ImonCalFreshWhatdoIneedtoknowaboutthenewworkrequirements\"> I’m on CalFresh. What do I need to know about the new work requirements?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073668\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Close-up shot of hands holding food. \u003ccite>(Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The changes that go into effect on June 1 make several unprecedented changes to this policy, which was already incredibly cruel, and decades of research have shown that it’s ineffectual,” said Andrew Cheyne, managing director at the County Welfare Directors Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state has already started rolling out directives from the Trump administration that have impacted eligibility for CalFresh. For example, in April, California began to enforce a requirement that barred \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078168/april-1-snap-food-stamps-cal-fresh-eligibility-change-2026-immigrants-refugees-asylum-seekers-recertify-where-to-find-food-bank\">some humanitarian immigrants from signing up for food benefits\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Advocates like Cheyne have expressed alarm about the barriers to food access that are being increased by these directives — additional “burdens for recipients who are experiencing poverty-related hunger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re seeing in other states’ data just devastating drops in the SNAP caseload,” he said. “Not because people are ineligible. Not because they are getting good jobs with good wages. But because of the inability to navigate the red tape that Congress enacted in H.R. 1.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cheyne warned that without significant investment in county workers to support residents through these changes, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Fiscal-and-Financial-Information/LOcal-Assistance-Estimates/2026-27/Revisions/2026-may-revision-estimate-methodologies.pdf\">hundreds of thousands of recipients could lose access to CalFresh\u003c/a> after the H.R. 1 updates.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The coming impact of CalFresh changes in June\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s SNAP changes in June will not apply to everyone. And some people, like those who are pregnant, may be exempt from the work hours guidelines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, said 112,000 people in the city receive CalFresh benefits. He estimated these new work requirements may apply to 18% of them: about 19,300 people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078496\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078496\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California SNAP benefits shopper pushes a cart through a supermarket in Bellflower, California, on Feb. 13, 2023. \u003ccite>(Allison Dinner/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rhorer said his office is aiming to reach out to SNAP users who might be impacted through community organizations, to provide them more information about the changes in eligibility and “make this requirement as easy as possible to fulfill for CalFresh recipients.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Safety net supports, such as food or healthcare, should be provided to low-income people unconditionally,” he said. “There shouldn’t be additional bureaucratic hoops to jump through. There shouldn’t be work requirements ascribed to services that we provide that meet basic human needs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what \u003cem>are \u003c/em>these new CalFresh work requirements — and who will be most affected starting in June?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know. KQED also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078168/april-1-snap-food-stamps-cal-fresh-eligibility-change-2026-immigrants-refugees-asylum-seekers-recertify-where-to-find-food-bank\">an FAQ on the restrictions announced in April\u003c/a>, which barred some humanitarian immigrants from receiving CalFresh benefits, and a thorough \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">guide on using food banks or food pantries\u003c/a> near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowcanIfulfillthenewworkrequirements\">How can I fulfill the new work requirements?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whowillbeexemptfromworkrequirements\">Who will be exempt from work requirements?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ImonCalFreshWhatdoIneedtoknowaboutthenewworkrequirements\">\u003c/a>What are the new CalFresh work requirements, and who will be affected?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The major change: Starting June 1, CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 who do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> live with a child under the age of 14 are required to fulfill a certain number of work hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Nationally, the age threshold for federal SNAP work requirements was previously 55. Parents or caregivers with a child age 17 or younger were also exempt.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064446\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064446\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shopping carts are parked around the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>CalFresh recipients who are subject to work requirements must complete 20 hours of work-related activities a week, or an average of 80 hours a month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not exempt (see below) and you’re not working or participating in the eligible work activities outlined below, you can only receive CalFresh benefits for three months out of 36 months, i.e., three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An important detail on timing: The eligibility guidelines will first apply to \u003cem>new\u003c/em> CalFresh applicants starting June 1. Current SNAP recipients in California will only be subject to these rules once they recertify their benefits, said Rhorer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you’re \u003cem>applying \u003c/em>for CalFresh before June 1? “Applications that are submitted now are applied under the current rules,” Cheyne said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means that if you’re one of the people eligible for the CalFresh work requirements starting June 1, applying for SNAP before that date would mean you’d receive a year of food benefits \u003cem>without \u003c/em>being subject to the work rules, before you eventually recertify. (For most people, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/food/calfresh/keep-calfresh\">recertifying is an annual process\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowcanIfulfillthenewworkrequirements\">\u003c/a>How do I fulfill the new CalFresh work requirements?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">the San Francisco HSA’s website\u003c/a>, work-related activities that satisfy these requirements include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Working at a job\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Volunteering or doing community service\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Participating in a job training or employment program (in San Francisco, this could be through SFHSA)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Enrolled in school less than half-time or in a training program (which in San Francisco could include City College classes like GED or English as a second language, according to Rhorer).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>On its website, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">SFHSA said\u003c/a> that the “work activities also need to be documented and can be combined from different activities for a total of 80 hours per month.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are some positions — like a job at a nonprofit — where recipients can work \u003cem>fewer\u003c/em> than 80 hours per month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064448\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A person stands across advertisements for CalFresh as she holds her groceries from the Alameda Food Bank at the 12th Street BART Station in Oakland on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>However, a CalFresh recipient would need to check with \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">their Benefits Program\u003c/a> to see if they still qualify with these reduced work hours. A list of county offices can be found on \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">an interactive map on CalFresh’s website\u003c/a>, and you can also call CalFresh at 1-877-847-3663.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re on CalFresh, your county may have opportunities or referrals for work or job training. For example, San Francisco is “expanding available community work slots for our CalFresh clients,” according to Rhorer, and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/jobsnow\">a JobsNOW! Program to connect recipients to workplaces\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco is partnering with community-based organizations to provide employment training for CalFresh users — from resume preparation to home healthcare for seniors — and pinpointing job opportunities in sectors that are hiring, like tech, construction, hospitality and home care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city is also developing “a community works program, which is really a way for nonprofit organizations to get volunteers who are on CalFresh to go ahead and work in their nonprofit agencies,” Rhorer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whowillbeexemptfromworkrequirements\">\u003c/a>Which CalFresh recipients are exempt from work requirements?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>CalFresh recipients should \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">check with the Benefits Program\u003c/a> to make sure the exceptions apply to them, but broadly, exemptions from the federal government include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Being younger than 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Being older than 64\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pregnancy\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Having a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">“physical or mental health condition that prevents you from working”\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Receiving other benefits, like unemployment insurance or Supplemental Security Income\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>In a substance use disorder program\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Caregiving for a person with a disability\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Member of a federally recognized tribe\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Participating in a program like CalWORKS\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Going to school at least part-time (and adhering to student eligibility requirements).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Veterans, some people experiencing homelessness and\u003ca href=\"https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/california-lawmakers-looking-to-avoid-foster-youth-going-hungry/274537\"> former foster youth\u003c/a> were previously also \u003ca href=\"https://www.cafoodbanks.org/what-we-do/policy/calfresh-changes-hr1/#work\">exempt \u003c/a>from federal work requirements to access SNAP, but may be newly subject to these rules starting June 1.[aside postID=news_12078168 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-11-BL-KQED.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about those California counties that are still exempt from CalFresh work requirements?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Both states and Congress have worked to waive benefit limits related to work requirements in times of economic distress, including the Great Recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And before the Trump administration’s H.R.1 bill, \u003ca href=\"https://frac.org/blog/qa-how-does-the-new-snap-time-limits-policy-affect-you-what-states-and-families-need-to-know\">some states, including California, were able to get waivers\u003c/a> exempting some or all SNAP recipients from work requirements due to an insufficient number of job opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These waivers are now restricted to California counties with \u003ca href=\"https://frac.org/blog/qa-how-does-the-new-snap-time-limits-policy-affect-you-what-states-and-families-need-to-know\">an unemployment rate of 10% and greater\u003c/a> — which only applies to “very few areas,” Cheyne said. None of them is in the nine-county Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until Oct. 31 this year, SNAP recipients in these California counties will remain exempt from work requirements:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Alpine\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Colusa\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Imperial\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Merced\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monterey\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Plumas\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tulare.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can CalFresh recipients go for more information or support?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Cheyne reminded current CalFresh users that these new work requirements won’t apply to them until they recertify their SNAP benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once their case is up for renewal, people should look for information from their county on how to continue their food benefits. A list of county offices can be found on \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">an interactive map on CalFresh’s website\u003c/a>. You can also call CalFresh at 1-877-847-3663.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Cheyne warned CalFresh users that county workers likely see a higher volume of cases and paperwork, which could impact their ability to serve SNAP recipients like this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078659\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078659\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteers sort fresh produce into boxes at the San Francisco‑Marin Food Bank warehouse in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He recommended that CalFresh users call their usual SNAP office when the time for recertification is coming up. Because of California’s yearslong waiver on work requirements, “this is going to be new for everyone, all of the recipients and all of the workers,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cheyne pointed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/01/metro/snap-benefits-lost-calls-disconnected/\">Massachusetts\u003c/a>, which has already implemented the new eligibility guidelines and has seen “a dramatic drop-off in eligible households … families who are trying to get through, who need assistance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But the workers are simply overwhelmed by the volume of workload and can’t keep up with the cases.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Starting in June, California will start enforcing new federal guidelines that require some SNAP recipients to work 20 hours a week — or see their food benefits cut. Here’s what you need to know.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, California will begin enforcing new and expanded federal guidelines that require some CalFresh recipients to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">work 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month\u003c/a> — with a stark reduction in food benefits for those who don’t fulfill the requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Approximately \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5126\">5.5 million people\u003c/a> use CalFresh in California. And since 2020, California, like several other states, has exempted its residents from the federal government’s longstanding (and \u003ca href=\"https://frac.org/blog/history-shows-congress-should-end-snap-time-limits\">contentious) “time limit” policy\u003c/a>, which mandates that any Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who don’t meet federal work requirements can only receive three months of food benefits in three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now, due to H.R. 1 — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910533/what-the-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-california\">the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill\u003c/a>” authored by President Donald Trump’s administration — California’s ability to waive work requirements for the entire state has been limited to only seven counties, none of them in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The work requirements also now apply nationally to a wider range of people, including people up to 64 years old and parents with children 14 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083881/heres-what-newsoms-revised-budget-means-for-education-in-california\">Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget\u003c/a> released in May, the California Department of Social Services estimates that 2.6 million Californians will be subject to these work requirements starting June 1 — and that as many as 562,000 CalFresh users could ultimately lose access to their food benefits after the new time limit rules are put in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#ImonCalFreshWhatdoIneedtoknowaboutthenewworkrequirements\"> I’m on CalFresh. What do I need to know about the new work requirements?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073668\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/RamadanGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Close-up shot of hands holding food. \u003ccite>(Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The changes that go into effect on June 1 make several unprecedented changes to this policy, which was already incredibly cruel, and decades of research have shown that it’s ineffectual,” said Andrew Cheyne, managing director at the County Welfare Directors Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state has already started rolling out directives from the Trump administration that have impacted eligibility for CalFresh. For example, in April, California began to enforce a requirement that barred \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078168/april-1-snap-food-stamps-cal-fresh-eligibility-change-2026-immigrants-refugees-asylum-seekers-recertify-where-to-find-food-bank\">some humanitarian immigrants from signing up for food benefits\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Advocates like Cheyne have expressed alarm about the barriers to food access that are being increased by these directives — additional “burdens for recipients who are experiencing poverty-related hunger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re seeing in other states’ data just devastating drops in the SNAP caseload,” he said. “Not because people are ineligible. Not because they are getting good jobs with good wages. But because of the inability to navigate the red tape that Congress enacted in H.R. 1.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cheyne warned that without significant investment in county workers to support residents through these changes, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Fiscal-and-Financial-Information/LOcal-Assistance-Estimates/2026-27/Revisions/2026-may-revision-estimate-methodologies.pdf\">hundreds of thousands of recipients could lose access to CalFresh\u003c/a> after the H.R. 1 updates.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The coming impact of CalFresh changes in June\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s SNAP changes in June will not apply to everyone. And some people, like those who are pregnant, may be exempt from the work hours guidelines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, said 112,000 people in the city receive CalFresh benefits. He estimated these new work requirements may apply to 18% of them: about 19,300 people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078496\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078496\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California SNAP benefits shopper pushes a cart through a supermarket in Bellflower, California, on Feb. 13, 2023. \u003ccite>(Allison Dinner/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rhorer said his office is aiming to reach out to SNAP users who might be impacted through community organizations, to provide them more information about the changes in eligibility and “make this requirement as easy as possible to fulfill for CalFresh recipients.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Safety net supports, such as food or healthcare, should be provided to low-income people unconditionally,” he said. “There shouldn’t be additional bureaucratic hoops to jump through. There shouldn’t be work requirements ascribed to services that we provide that meet basic human needs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what \u003cem>are \u003c/em>these new CalFresh work requirements — and who will be most affected starting in June?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know. KQED also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078168/april-1-snap-food-stamps-cal-fresh-eligibility-change-2026-immigrants-refugees-asylum-seekers-recertify-where-to-find-food-bank\">an FAQ on the restrictions announced in April\u003c/a>, which barred some humanitarian immigrants from receiving CalFresh benefits, and a thorough \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">guide on using food banks or food pantries\u003c/a> near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowcanIfulfillthenewworkrequirements\">How can I fulfill the new work requirements?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whowillbeexemptfromworkrequirements\">Who will be exempt from work requirements?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ImonCalFreshWhatdoIneedtoknowaboutthenewworkrequirements\">\u003c/a>What are the new CalFresh work requirements, and who will be affected?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The major change: Starting June 1, CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 who do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> live with a child under the age of 14 are required to fulfill a certain number of work hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Nationally, the age threshold for federal SNAP work requirements was previously 55. Parents or caregivers with a child age 17 or younger were also exempt.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064446\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064446\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shopping carts are parked around the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>CalFresh recipients who are subject to work requirements must complete 20 hours of work-related activities a week, or an average of 80 hours a month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not exempt (see below) and you’re not working or participating in the eligible work activities outlined below, you can only receive CalFresh benefits for three months out of 36 months, i.e., three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An important detail on timing: The eligibility guidelines will first apply to \u003cem>new\u003c/em> CalFresh applicants starting June 1. Current SNAP recipients in California will only be subject to these rules once they recertify their benefits, said Rhorer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you’re \u003cem>applying \u003c/em>for CalFresh before June 1? “Applications that are submitted now are applied under the current rules,” Cheyne said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means that if you’re one of the people eligible for the CalFresh work requirements starting June 1, applying for SNAP before that date would mean you’d receive a year of food benefits \u003cem>without \u003c/em>being subject to the work rules, before you eventually recertify. (For most people, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/food/calfresh/keep-calfresh\">recertifying is an annual process\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowcanIfulfillthenewworkrequirements\">\u003c/a>How do I fulfill the new CalFresh work requirements?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">the San Francisco HSA’s website\u003c/a>, work-related activities that satisfy these requirements include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Working at a job\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Volunteering or doing community service\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Participating in a job training or employment program (in San Francisco, this could be through SFHSA)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Enrolled in school less than half-time or in a training program (which in San Francisco could include City College classes like GED or English as a second language, according to Rhorer).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>On its website, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">SFHSA said\u003c/a> that the “work activities also need to be documented and can be combined from different activities for a total of 80 hours per month.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are some positions — like a job at a nonprofit — where recipients can work \u003cem>fewer\u003c/em> than 80 hours per month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064448\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A person stands across advertisements for CalFresh as she holds her groceries from the Alameda Food Bank at the 12th Street BART Station in Oakland on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>However, a CalFresh recipient would need to check with \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">their Benefits Program\u003c/a> to see if they still qualify with these reduced work hours. A list of county offices can be found on \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">an interactive map on CalFresh’s website\u003c/a>, and you can also call CalFresh at 1-877-847-3663.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re on CalFresh, your county may have opportunities or referrals for work or job training. For example, San Francisco is “expanding available community work slots for our CalFresh clients,” according to Rhorer, and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/jobsnow\">a JobsNOW! Program to connect recipients to workplaces\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco is partnering with community-based organizations to provide employment training for CalFresh users — from resume preparation to home healthcare for seniors — and pinpointing job opportunities in sectors that are hiring, like tech, construction, hospitality and home care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city is also developing “a community works program, which is really a way for nonprofit organizations to get volunteers who are on CalFresh to go ahead and work in their nonprofit agencies,” Rhorer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whowillbeexemptfromworkrequirements\">\u003c/a>Which CalFresh recipients are exempt from work requirements?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>CalFresh recipients should \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">check with the Benefits Program\u003c/a> to make sure the exceptions apply to them, but broadly, exemptions from the federal government include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Being younger than 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Being older than 64\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pregnancy\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Having a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">“physical or mental health condition that prevents you from working”\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Receiving other benefits, like unemployment insurance or Supplemental Security Income\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>In a substance use disorder program\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Caregiving for a person with a disability\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Member of a federally recognized tribe\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Participating in a program like CalWORKS\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Going to school at least part-time (and adhering to student eligibility requirements).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Veterans, some people experiencing homelessness and\u003ca href=\"https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/california-lawmakers-looking-to-avoid-foster-youth-going-hungry/274537\"> former foster youth\u003c/a> were previously also \u003ca href=\"https://www.cafoodbanks.org/what-we-do/policy/calfresh-changes-hr1/#work\">exempt \u003c/a>from federal work requirements to access SNAP, but may be newly subject to these rules starting June 1.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about those California counties that are still exempt from CalFresh work requirements?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Both states and Congress have worked to waive benefit limits related to work requirements in times of economic distress, including the Great Recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And before the Trump administration’s H.R.1 bill, \u003ca href=\"https://frac.org/blog/qa-how-does-the-new-snap-time-limits-policy-affect-you-what-states-and-families-need-to-know\">some states, including California, were able to get waivers\u003c/a> exempting some or all SNAP recipients from work requirements due to an insufficient number of job opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These waivers are now restricted to California counties with \u003ca href=\"https://frac.org/blog/qa-how-does-the-new-snap-time-limits-policy-affect-you-what-states-and-families-need-to-know\">an unemployment rate of 10% and greater\u003c/a> — which only applies to “very few areas,” Cheyne said. None of them is in the nine-county Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until Oct. 31 this year, SNAP recipients in these California counties will remain exempt from work requirements:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Alpine\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Colusa\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Imperial\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Merced\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monterey\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Plumas\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tulare.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can CalFresh recipients go for more information or support?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Cheyne reminded current CalFresh users that these new work requirements won’t apply to them until they recertify their SNAP benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once their case is up for renewal, people should look for information from their county on how to continue their food benefits. A list of county offices can be found on \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">an interactive map on CalFresh’s website\u003c/a>. You can also call CalFresh at 1-877-847-3663.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Cheyne warned CalFresh users that county workers likely see a higher volume of cases and paperwork, which could impact their ability to serve SNAP recipients like this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078659\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078659\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/251031-SFMarinFoodBank-21-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteers sort fresh produce into boxes at the San Francisco‑Marin Food Bank warehouse in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He recommended that CalFresh users call their usual SNAP office when the time for recertification is coming up. Because of California’s yearslong waiver on work requirements, “this is going to be new for everyone, all of the recipients and all of the workers,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cheyne pointed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/01/metro/snap-benefits-lost-calls-disconnected/\">Massachusetts\u003c/a>, which has already implemented the new eligibility guidelines and has seen “a dramatic drop-off in eligible households … families who are trying to get through, who need assistance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But the workers are simply overwhelmed by the volume of workload and can’t keep up with the cases.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "april-1-snap-food-stamps-cal-fresh-eligibility-change-2026-immigrants-refugees-asylum-seekers-recertify-where-to-find-food-bank",
"title": "Thousands of Immigrants Will Lose Access to CalFresh This Week. Here’s What to Know",
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"headTitle": "Thousands of Immigrants Will Lose Access to CalFresh This Week. Here’s What to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Starting Wednesday, tens of thousands of humanitarian immigrants across California will \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065310/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-to-cost-san-francisco-400m-end-care-for-thousands\">no longer be eligible for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program\u003c/a>, benefits that are still sometimes referred to as food stamps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The changes in who’s eligible for benefits through SNAP — called CalFresh in California — are among the huge cuts to social safety programs in the United States enacted by President Donald Trump’s 2025 H.R. 1 spending bill”, the “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910533/what-the-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-california\">One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u003c/a>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some states have already implemented these restrictions, but California will be following suit starting April 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#eligibility\">Who will lose eligibility for CalFresh benefits starting April 1?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#straightaway\">Do impacted people lose benefits straightaway?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>While not all immigrants will be pushed out of CalFresh, Trump’s bill specifically targets individuals like refugees and people claiming asylum in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are people who have come here after escaping violence and persecution and torture,” said Jackie Mendelson, policy advocate with nonprofit organization \u003ca href=\"https://nourishca.org/\">Nourish California\u003c/a>. “These are communities that we have historically said, ‘You are welcome here. We have the support for you. We’re going to help you get established in our country.’ And now, the federal government is abandoning them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Around 72,000 lawfully present immigrants in the state will be impacted, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://nourishca.org/our-work/food4all/\">Food4All Coalition\u003c/a>, a statewide advocacy campaign, and the Alameda County Community Food Bank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While exact numbers are not available for the Bay Area, the organizations in a news release estimate that over 5,000 of these individuals are in Alameda County alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064448\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith stands across advertisements for CalFresh as she holds her groceries from the Alameda Food Bank at the 12th Street BART Station in Oakland on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Impacted groups already enrolled in CalFresh will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> lose their benefits right away. However, they will not be able to continue using CalFresh when they recertify their benefits after April 1. For most households, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/english/cf37.pdf\">recertification \u003c/a>usually takes place every 12 months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn more about the bill’s impact on CalFresh, who will be most affected, and where you can find access to food in the Bay Area regardless of your situation or immigration status.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"eligibility\">\u003c/a>Who will no longer be eligible for CalFresh food benefits starting April 1?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/frequently-asked-questions\">the California Department of Social Services\u003c/a>, the following groups will no longer be eligible to apply for new CalFresh benefits starting April 1:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Asylees\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Refugees\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Parolees (unless they are \u003ca href=\"https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/orr_fact_sheet_cuban_haitian_entrant.pdf\">Cuban and Haitian Entrants\u003c/a>)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Individuals with deportation or removal withheld\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Conditional entrants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Survivors of trafficking\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>“Battered noncitizens” \u003ca href=\"https://stgenssa.sccgov.org/debs/program_handbooks/common_place/assets/2CSI/05NCitCatCd/05_05BattrdNoncitiz.htm\">(victims of abuse)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Iraqis or Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Certain Afghan Nationals granted parole between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Certain Ukrainian Nationals granted parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>According to CDSS, “if there are multiple people in your household with different immigration statuses, \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">you will receive a notice showing who is approved and who is denied.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/immigrants/public-benefits-immigrants\">Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for CalFresh.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Who is still eligible for CalFresh?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You are still \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">eligible for CalFresh\u003c/a> if you are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>A citizen of the United States\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A \u003ca href=\"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship/Certificates-Non-Citizen-Nationality.html\">U.S. national\u003c/a> (for example, without citizenship but born in American Samoa or Swains Island)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/orr_fact_sheet_cuban_haitian_entrant.pdf\">A Cuban and Haitian entrant (CHE) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A citizen of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who has met the five-year waiting period or has an \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">exemption from the five-year waiting period\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If your immigration status \u003cem>changes\u003c/em> to one of the above (for example, you’ve become a lawful permanent resident), you may be eligible for CalFresh again and \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">should contact your county worker\u003c/a> to learn more.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What other changes to CalFresh eligibility should I know about now?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The changes to eligibility for certain lawfully present immigrants. This will be on top of the restrictions that kicked in in November 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/frequently-asked-questions\">“must have heating or cooling costs separate from their housing costs” \u003c/a>to claim the Standard Utility Allowance. This does not apply to households that don’t include anyone over the age of 60 or someone with a disability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be more changes to CalFresh eligibility coming on June 1, when some people receiving these benefits will need to complete \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/frequently-asked-questions\">new work or community engagement hours\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Will I lose my CalFresh benefits right away on April 1?\u003ca id=\"straightaway\">\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: According to \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">CDSS\u003c/a>, your benefits will continue until your \u003cem>next\u003c/em> recertification, “as long as you continue to meet all other non-immigration eligibility criteria” to receive CalFresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12064126 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01472_TV-KQED.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most households \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">recertify every 12 months\u003c/a>, but some units may have longer periods than others. You can find out your recertification date on \u003ca href=\"http://benefitscal.com\">BenefitsCal.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At that appointment, “a county worker will determine if you are still eligible for benefits at that time,” CDSS said. According to the agency, you will then receive a notification if you no longer meet CalFresh requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nourish California’s Mendelson said that her organization anticipates they’ll “see the majority drop-off for all of these folks” in the next six months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It also means that beginning April 1st, if someone has one of these immigration statuses, and they have not yet applied for CalFresh, and they apply on April 1st, they will be denied benefits,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>I still have questions about my CalFresh eligibility. Who do I go to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can call 1-877-847-3663 or \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">visit a local office\u003c/a> to receive help with any CalFresh questions you might still have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mendelson said people should also consider consulting with an immigration legal expert or attorney to learn more about their public health benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12066124\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12066124\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">While not all immigrants will be pushed out of CalFresh, Trump’s bill specifically targets individuals like refugees and people claiming asylum in the U.S. \u003ccite>(Oscar Wong/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The new SNAP eligibility restrictions are “on top of the fears some immigrants already had under the Trump administration and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030564/who-can-see-my-tax-information-when-i-file\">data sharing between agencies\u003c/a>,” Mendelson said — which she sees as another part of a “greater fear and chilling effect that the Trump administration has been creating, attached to receiving public benefits.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12013522/free-legal-aid-in-the-bay-area-how-it-works-where-to-find-it\">a thorough guide on finding free or low-cost legal aid in the Bay Area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>If I’m losing CalFresh, are there government programs I can still use?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The California Food Assistance Program\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some — but not all — humanitarian immigrants may be qualified for\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/california-food-assistance-program\"> the California Food Assistance Program\u003c/a>. For example, some battered noncitizens and certain parolees who will lose CalFresh eligibility starting April 1 \u003cem>may \u003c/em>be \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">eligible for CFAP\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CFAP uses \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/calfresh/cfap/how-to-apply\">the same application as CalFresh\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12077353 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2267571375-2000x1333.jpg'] “At recertification, your county worker will determine your eligibility for CalFresh,” \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">CDSS’ guidance\u003c/a> reads. “If you are no longer eligible for CalFresh due to H.R. 1 but you are eligible for CFAP, your county worker will adjust your benefits at that time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">the CDSS\u003c/a>, “To be eligible for CFAP benefits, you must be ineligible for CalFresh benefits solely due to your immigration status under \u003ca href=\"https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/personal-responsibility-work-opportunity-reconciliation-act-1996\">the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996.\u003c/a>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Examples of CFAP eligible individuals are noncitizens \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">include\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Legal permanent residents who have not met the five-year U.S. residency requirement or the 40 qualifying work quarters criteria\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Conditional entrants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Battered or abused\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>As of June 1, \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">parolees\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">who have not met the five-year waiting period or an exemption. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Mendelson said advocates like her are “working to expand our food assistance program to remove immigration status as a barrier.” Starting Oct. 2027, for example, CFAP will be \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.guide/california-food-assistance-program-cfap/\">available for people 55 and older regardless of immigration status\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This kind of expansion, Mendelson said, “would actually protect immigrant communities from any future attacks by any future federal government.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Women, Infants, and Children Program is \u003cem>not \u003c/em>impacted by the changes going into effect on April 1. WIC provides support — \u003ca href=\"https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/Home/HowWICHelps\">including food assistance\u003c/a> — for families with young children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check if you are eligible for WIC benefits by \u003ca href=\"https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/Home/AmIEligible\">taking the state’s assessment online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Will applying to these programs impact my immigration status?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.chhs.ca.gov/public-charge-guide/\">California’s Health and Human Services\u003c/a> agency, the Trump administration has proposed removing a 2022 rule that \u003ca href=\"https://www.chhs.ca.gov/public-charge-guide/\">“removes barriers to accessing public benefits for most immigrants.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the Trump administration’s proposal is not yet in effect. That means that right now, using CFAP and CalFresh will \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">“not affect your application for a U.S. visa or your family-based application for a green card,”\u003c/a> according to CDSS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062568\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062568\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Workers sort fresh produce into boxes at the San Francisco‑Marin Food Bank warehouse in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you have more questions about \u003ca href=\"https://www.chhs.ca.gov/public-charge-guide/\">public charges\u003c/a>, the CDSS guide suggests you\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12013522/free-legal-aid-in-the-bay-area-how-it-works-where-to-find-it\"> reach out to a legal expert\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where else can I find food assistance? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">using food banks or food pantries near you\u003c/a>. Keep in mind that most food banks are not the actual site to get your meals, but rather a distributor to participating food pantries, organizations, nonprofits and churches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Read in Spanish: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062427/como-encontrar-un-banco-de-alimentos-o-despensa-cerca-de-usted-en-el-area-de-la-bahia\">Cómo encontrar un banco de alimentos o despensa cerca de usted en el Área de la Bahía\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Many food banks serve people regardless of immigration status. For example, the SF-Marin Food Bank states on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/find-food/\">its website\u003c/a> that it “is committed to serving residents regardless of their immigration status or identity” and as a non-government agency, does “not collect the immigration status of participants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For food banks across the states, typically you don’t need to provide information to get food,” Mendelson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she also said that anyone visiting a food bank that provides food through \u003ca href=\"https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program\">the Emergency Food Assistance Program\u003c/a> — a federal project — “might have to” give some identifying information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So the best course of action is for folks to call their local food bank to ask about reporting requirements,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.foodnow.net/do-you-need-food-delivered-to-your-home/\">Some food banks, like the Alameda County Community Food Bank, also make home deliveries\u003c/a> if you’re physically unable to get to the food bank location. ACCFB said late last year that it’s seeing a significant increase in home delivery requests right now, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/bay-area-snap-benefits-21122988.php\">Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas has attributed \u003c/a>to fears many immigrants have about leaving their homes amid\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061545/bay-area-spared-from-federal-immigration-enforcement-surge-officials-say\"> threats of an immigration crackdown\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a regularly updated map or tool, you can use:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cafoodbanks.org/our-members/\">The California Association of Food Banks’ online tool\u003c/a>, which lists all the major food banks in the state\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://211ca.org/\">The state’s 211 hotline\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/find-food/\">The SF-Marin Food Bank search tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityteam.org/get-help/san-francisco\">CityTeam San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.missionaction.org/find-services/#health\">Mission Action’s\u003c/a> food assistance number, 415-633-6192\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.foodnow.net/find-a-food-pantry/\">Alameda County Community Food Bank\u003c/a>; you can also call 510-635-3663\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.foodbankccs.org/find-food/foodbycity/?_gl=1*3ajdlo*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjA5ODkyMDQ5NS4xNzYxMjQ2NjU0*_ga_8BLR9BK6YN*czE3NjEyNDY2NTMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjEyNDY2NTMkajYwJGwwJGgw\">Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano\u003c/a>; you can also call for help at 855-309-3663\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://getfood.refb.org/getfood.html\">Redwood Empire\u003c/a> of Sonoma County; you can also text “FOOD” to 707-353-3882\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.shfb.org/get-food/?filter_mode=distribution/\">Second Harvest of Silicon Valley\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Local trusted community organizations, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.womensbuilding.org/programs/food-pantry\">the Women’s Building in San Francisco\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://sirenimmigrantrights.org/\"> SIREN in the South Bay\u003c/a>, are also a major way for people to connect to food resources, Mendelson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you find a spot, be sure to check out the food bank or pantry online before heading out. Note what hours they are open, and for how long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some locations are open to anyone from any city or county and accept walk-ins, but some may require people to register for a spot beforehand or live in a specific zip code.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where can my family find CalFresh eligibility information in other languages?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>CDSS has Q&A PDFs about the CalFresh changes in the following languages:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color%20-%20Spanish.pdf\">Spanish\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Arabic.pdf\">Arabic\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Farsi_Dari.pdf\">Farsi/Dari\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Ukrainian.pdf\">Ukrainian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Hmong.pdf\">Hmong\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Cambodian.pdf\">Cambodian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Armenian.pdf\">Armenian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh_Noncitizen_Eligibility_FAQ_Color_Chinese.pdf\">Chinese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Hindi.pdf\">Hindi\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Japanese.pdf\">Japanese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Korean.pdf\">Korean\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Lao.pdf\">Lao\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Mien.pdf\">Mien\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Portuguese.pdf\">Portuguese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Punjabi.pdf\">Punjabi\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Russian.pdf\">Russian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Tagalog.pdf\">Tagalog\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Thai.pdf\">Thai\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Vietnamese.pdf\">Vietnamese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/carlysevern\">Carly Severn\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/shossaini\">Sara Hossaini\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The changes are among the huge cuts to social safety programs in the U.S. enacted by President Donald Trump’s 2025 H.R. 1 spending bill, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” ",
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"title": "Thousands of Immigrants Will Lose Access to CalFresh This Week. Here’s What to Know | KQED",
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"headline": "Thousands of Immigrants Will Lose Access to CalFresh This Week. Here’s What to Know",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Starting Wednesday, tens of thousands of humanitarian immigrants across California will \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065310/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-to-cost-san-francisco-400m-end-care-for-thousands\">no longer be eligible for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program\u003c/a>, benefits that are still sometimes referred to as food stamps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The changes in who’s eligible for benefits through SNAP — called CalFresh in California — are among the huge cuts to social safety programs in the United States enacted by President Donald Trump’s 2025 H.R. 1 spending bill”, the “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910533/what-the-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-california\">One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u003c/a>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some states have already implemented these restrictions, but California will be following suit starting April 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#eligibility\">Who will lose eligibility for CalFresh benefits starting April 1?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#straightaway\">Do impacted people lose benefits straightaway?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>While not all immigrants will be pushed out of CalFresh, Trump’s bill specifically targets individuals like refugees and people claiming asylum in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are people who have come here after escaping violence and persecution and torture,” said Jackie Mendelson, policy advocate with nonprofit organization \u003ca href=\"https://nourishca.org/\">Nourish California\u003c/a>. “These are communities that we have historically said, ‘You are welcome here. We have the support for you. We’re going to help you get established in our country.’ And now, the federal government is abandoning them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Around 72,000 lawfully present immigrants in the state will be impacted, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://nourishca.org/our-work/food4all/\">Food4All Coalition\u003c/a>, a statewide advocacy campaign, and the Alameda County Community Food Bank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While exact numbers are not available for the Bay Area, the organizations in a news release estimate that over 5,000 of these individuals are in Alameda County alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064448\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith stands across advertisements for CalFresh as she holds her groceries from the Alameda Food Bank at the 12th Street BART Station in Oakland on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Impacted groups already enrolled in CalFresh will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> lose their benefits right away. However, they will not be able to continue using CalFresh when they recertify their benefits after April 1. For most households, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/english/cf37.pdf\">recertification \u003c/a>usually takes place every 12 months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn more about the bill’s impact on CalFresh, who will be most affected, and where you can find access to food in the Bay Area regardless of your situation or immigration status.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"eligibility\">\u003c/a>Who will no longer be eligible for CalFresh food benefits starting April 1?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/frequently-asked-questions\">the California Department of Social Services\u003c/a>, the following groups will no longer be eligible to apply for new CalFresh benefits starting April 1:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Asylees\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Refugees\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Parolees (unless they are \u003ca href=\"https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/orr_fact_sheet_cuban_haitian_entrant.pdf\">Cuban and Haitian Entrants\u003c/a>)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Individuals with deportation or removal withheld\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Conditional entrants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Survivors of trafficking\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>“Battered noncitizens” \u003ca href=\"https://stgenssa.sccgov.org/debs/program_handbooks/common_place/assets/2CSI/05NCitCatCd/05_05BattrdNoncitiz.htm\">(victims of abuse)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Iraqis or Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Certain Afghan Nationals granted parole between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Certain Ukrainian Nationals granted parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>According to CDSS, “if there are multiple people in your household with different immigration statuses, \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">you will receive a notice showing who is approved and who is denied.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/immigrants/public-benefits-immigrants\">Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for CalFresh.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Who is still eligible for CalFresh?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You are still \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">eligible for CalFresh\u003c/a> if you are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>A citizen of the United States\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A \u003ca href=\"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship/Certificates-Non-Citizen-Nationality.html\">U.S. national\u003c/a> (for example, without citizenship but born in American Samoa or Swains Island)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/orr_fact_sheet_cuban_haitian_entrant.pdf\">A Cuban and Haitian entrant (CHE) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A citizen of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who has met the five-year waiting period or has an \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">exemption from the five-year waiting period\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If your immigration status \u003cem>changes\u003c/em> to one of the above (for example, you’ve become a lawful permanent resident), you may be eligible for CalFresh again and \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">should contact your county worker\u003c/a> to learn more.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What other changes to CalFresh eligibility should I know about now?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The changes to eligibility for certain lawfully present immigrants. This will be on top of the restrictions that kicked in in November 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/frequently-asked-questions\">“must have heating or cooling costs separate from their housing costs” \u003c/a>to claim the Standard Utility Allowance. This does not apply to households that don’t include anyone over the age of 60 or someone with a disability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be more changes to CalFresh eligibility coming on June 1, when some people receiving these benefits will need to complete \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/frequently-asked-questions\">new work or community engagement hours\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Will I lose my CalFresh benefits right away on April 1?\u003ca id=\"straightaway\">\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: According to \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">CDSS\u003c/a>, your benefits will continue until your \u003cem>next\u003c/em> recertification, “as long as you continue to meet all other non-immigration eligibility criteria” to receive CalFresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most households \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">recertify every 12 months\u003c/a>, but some units may have longer periods than others. You can find out your recertification date on \u003ca href=\"http://benefitscal.com\">BenefitsCal.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At that appointment, “a county worker will determine if you are still eligible for benefits at that time,” CDSS said. According to the agency, you will then receive a notification if you no longer meet CalFresh requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nourish California’s Mendelson said that her organization anticipates they’ll “see the majority drop-off for all of these folks” in the next six months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It also means that beginning April 1st, if someone has one of these immigration statuses, and they have not yet applied for CalFresh, and they apply on April 1st, they will be denied benefits,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>I still have questions about my CalFresh eligibility. Who do I go to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can call 1-877-847-3663 or \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/\">visit a local office\u003c/a> to receive help with any CalFresh questions you might still have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mendelson said people should also consider consulting with an immigration legal expert or attorney to learn more about their public health benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12066124\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12066124\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/CalFreshGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">While not all immigrants will be pushed out of CalFresh, Trump’s bill specifically targets individuals like refugees and people claiming asylum in the U.S. \u003ccite>(Oscar Wong/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The new SNAP eligibility restrictions are “on top of the fears some immigrants already had under the Trump administration and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030564/who-can-see-my-tax-information-when-i-file\">data sharing between agencies\u003c/a>,” Mendelson said — which she sees as another part of a “greater fear and chilling effect that the Trump administration has been creating, attached to receiving public benefits.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12013522/free-legal-aid-in-the-bay-area-how-it-works-where-to-find-it\">a thorough guide on finding free or low-cost legal aid in the Bay Area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>If I’m losing CalFresh, are there government programs I can still use?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The California Food Assistance Program\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some — but not all — humanitarian immigrants may be qualified for\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/california-food-assistance-program\"> the California Food Assistance Program\u003c/a>. For example, some battered noncitizens and certain parolees who will lose CalFresh eligibility starting April 1 \u003cem>may \u003c/em>be \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">eligible for CFAP\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CFAP uses \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/calfresh/cfap/how-to-apply\">the same application as CalFresh\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> “At recertification, your county worker will determine your eligibility for CalFresh,” \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">CDSS’ guidance\u003c/a> reads. “If you are no longer eligible for CalFresh due to H.R. 1 but you are eligible for CFAP, your county worker will adjust your benefits at that time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">the CDSS\u003c/a>, “To be eligible for CFAP benefits, you must be ineligible for CalFresh benefits solely due to your immigration status under \u003ca href=\"https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/personal-responsibility-work-opportunity-reconciliation-act-1996\">the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996.\u003c/a>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Examples of CFAP eligible individuals are noncitizens \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">include\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Legal permanent residents who have not met the five-year U.S. residency requirement or the 40 qualifying work quarters criteria\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Conditional entrants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Battered or abused\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>As of June 1, \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">parolees\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">who have not met the five-year waiting period or an exemption. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Mendelson said advocates like her are “working to expand our food assistance program to remove immigration status as a barrier.” Starting Oct. 2027, for example, CFAP will be \u003ca href=\"https://calfresh.guide/california-food-assistance-program-cfap/\">available for people 55 and older regardless of immigration status\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This kind of expansion, Mendelson said, “would actually protect immigrant communities from any future attacks by any future federal government.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Women, Infants, and Children Program is \u003cem>not \u003c/em>impacted by the changes going into effect on April 1. WIC provides support — \u003ca href=\"https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/Home/HowWICHelps\">including food assistance\u003c/a> — for families with young children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check if you are eligible for WIC benefits by \u003ca href=\"https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/Home/AmIEligible\">taking the state’s assessment online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Will applying to these programs impact my immigration status?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.chhs.ca.gov/public-charge-guide/\">California’s Health and Human Services\u003c/a> agency, the Trump administration has proposed removing a 2022 rule that \u003ca href=\"https://www.chhs.ca.gov/public-charge-guide/\">“removes barriers to accessing public benefits for most immigrants.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the Trump administration’s proposal is not yet in effect. That means that right now, using CFAP and CalFresh will \u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color.pdf\">“not affect your application for a U.S. visa or your family-based application for a green card,”\u003c/a> according to CDSS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062568\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062568\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251031-SFMARINFOODBANK-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Workers sort fresh produce into boxes at the San Francisco‑Marin Food Bank warehouse in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you have more questions about \u003ca href=\"https://www.chhs.ca.gov/public-charge-guide/\">public charges\u003c/a>, the CDSS guide suggests you\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12013522/free-legal-aid-in-the-bay-area-how-it-works-where-to-find-it\"> reach out to a legal expert\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where else can I find food assistance? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">using food banks or food pantries near you\u003c/a>. Keep in mind that most food banks are not the actual site to get your meals, but rather a distributor to participating food pantries, organizations, nonprofits and churches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Read in Spanish: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062427/como-encontrar-un-banco-de-alimentos-o-despensa-cerca-de-usted-en-el-area-de-la-bahia\">Cómo encontrar un banco de alimentos o despensa cerca de usted en el Área de la Bahía\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Many food banks serve people regardless of immigration status. For example, the SF-Marin Food Bank states on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/find-food/\">its website\u003c/a> that it “is committed to serving residents regardless of their immigration status or identity” and as a non-government agency, does “not collect the immigration status of participants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For food banks across the states, typically you don’t need to provide information to get food,” Mendelson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she also said that anyone visiting a food bank that provides food through \u003ca href=\"https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program\">the Emergency Food Assistance Program\u003c/a> — a federal project — “might have to” give some identifying information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So the best course of action is for folks to call their local food bank to ask about reporting requirements,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.foodnow.net/do-you-need-food-delivered-to-your-home/\">Some food banks, like the Alameda County Community Food Bank, also make home deliveries\u003c/a> if you’re physically unable to get to the food bank location. ACCFB said late last year that it’s seeing a significant increase in home delivery requests right now, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/bay-area-snap-benefits-21122988.php\">Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas has attributed \u003c/a>to fears many immigrants have about leaving their homes amid\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061545/bay-area-spared-from-federal-immigration-enforcement-surge-officials-say\"> threats of an immigration crackdown\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a regularly updated map or tool, you can use:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cafoodbanks.org/our-members/\">The California Association of Food Banks’ online tool\u003c/a>, which lists all the major food banks in the state\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://211ca.org/\">The state’s 211 hotline\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/find-food/\">The SF-Marin Food Bank search tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityteam.org/get-help/san-francisco\">CityTeam San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.missionaction.org/find-services/#health\">Mission Action’s\u003c/a> food assistance number, 415-633-6192\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.foodnow.net/find-a-food-pantry/\">Alameda County Community Food Bank\u003c/a>; you can also call 510-635-3663\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.foodbankccs.org/find-food/foodbycity/?_gl=1*3ajdlo*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjA5ODkyMDQ5NS4xNzYxMjQ2NjU0*_ga_8BLR9BK6YN*czE3NjEyNDY2NTMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjEyNDY2NTMkajYwJGwwJGgw\">Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano\u003c/a>; you can also call for help at 855-309-3663\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://getfood.refb.org/getfood.html\">Redwood Empire\u003c/a> of Sonoma County; you can also text “FOOD” to 707-353-3882\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.shfb.org/get-food/?filter_mode=distribution/\">Second Harvest of Silicon Valley\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Local trusted community organizations, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.womensbuilding.org/programs/food-pantry\">the Women’s Building in San Francisco\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://sirenimmigrantrights.org/\"> SIREN in the South Bay\u003c/a>, are also a major way for people to connect to food resources, Mendelson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you find a spot, be sure to check out the food bank or pantry online before heading out. Note what hours they are open, and for how long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some locations are open to anyone from any city or county and accept walk-ins, but some may require people to register for a spot beforehand or live in a specific zip code.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where can my family find CalFresh eligibility information in other languages?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>CDSS has Q&A PDFs about the CalFresh changes in the following languages:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color%20-%20Spanish.pdf\">Spanish\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Arabic.pdf\">Arabic\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Farsi_Dari.pdf\">Farsi/Dari\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Ukrainian.pdf\">Ukrainian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Hmong.pdf\">Hmong\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Cambodian.pdf\">Cambodian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Armenian.pdf\">Armenian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh_Noncitizen_Eligibility_FAQ_Color_Chinese.pdf\">Chinese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Hindi.pdf\">Hindi\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Japanese.pdf\">Japanese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Korean.pdf\">Korean\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Lao.pdf\">Lao\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Mien.pdf\">Mien\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Portuguese.pdf\">Portuguese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Punjabi.pdf\">Punjabi\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Russian.pdf\">Russian\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Tagalog.pdf\">Tagalog\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Thai.pdf\">Thai\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFreshResourceCenter/CalFresh%20Noncitizen%20Eligibility%20FAQ_Color_Vietnamese.pdf\">Vietnamese\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/carlysevern\">Carly Severn\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/shossaini\">Sara Hossaini\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "state-workers-push-for-telework-options",
"title": "State Workers Push for Telework Options",
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"headTitle": "State Workers Push for Telework Options | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sacramento County is home to California’s largest community of state workers, around 90,000 people. Governor Gavin Newsom says he wants them to come back into the office starting this summer — many still work remotely part time following the pandemic. But state worker unions hope \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/02/23/union-backed-bill-would-require-telework-options-for-california-state-workers/\">a new bill will protect their ability to telework\u003c/a> indefinitely.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Humboldt County, low wages are leading to high rates of poverty and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ijpr.org/food-and-agriculture/2026-02-26/far-northern-california-uses-food-assistance-more-than-rest-of-state\">greater enrollment in the state food program CalFresh.\u003c/a> \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Along the coast of San Mateo County, elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park could be experiencing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000206/officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park\">a “small outbreak” of bird flu\u003c/a>, according to scientists.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 class=\"page-title\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/02/23/union-backed-bill-would-require-telework-options-for-california-state-workers/\">\u003cstrong>Union-backed bill would require telework options for California state workers\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On any given day before the pandemic, hundreds of workers would walk the sidewalks circling the State Capitol in Sacramento on their lunch breaks. But it isn’t as busy in the downtown Capitol corridor as it used to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A big part of that is state workers are still working remotely a few days a week. Sacramento County is home to California’s largest concentration of state employees – just under 90,000 workers. Gina Garcia-Smith is one of them. She is a former school teacher and now works as a program consultant for the California Department of Education located in downtown Sacramento. Garcia-Smith said the option to work from home has allowed her more flexibility, especially after becoming a new parent. “I’m able to do my job remotely for three days out of the week, that really has improved my quality of life and the amount of time I’m able to spend with my daughter,” Garcia-Smith said. “I’m not, you know, stuck in traffic. I’m able to be present.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered most state employees to return to the office four days a week starting July 1, 2026, up from a required twice per week. The mandate received pushback from state workers, including Garcia-Smith, who said the ability to telework is a big draw for state jobs. “If we really want to attract and retain quality state workers, it’s really important to be able to provide some incentive because clearly pay is not the incentive that’s being provided,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Garcia-Smith’s union, SEIU Local 1000 is backing a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1729\">bill\u003c/a> this year that would require state agencies to continue offering telework. Other unions representing state workers also support the measure, including CAPS UAW Local 1115, AFSCME 2620, CASE, and PECG. Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee of Milpitas authored the legislation. His district encompasses Silicon Valley where private-sector telework is typical. Lee argued state workers should continue to benefit from that same opportunity. “This has allowed for people to move further away from Sacramento in places that are more affordable, close to their family networks, instead of all being concentrated in one area. And this has a lot of great potential benefits for the workers themselves,” Lee said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 2025 State Auditor \u003ca href=\"https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2024-118/\">report\u003c/a> estimated that continued telework for state employees would save California around $225 million a year in real estate and facility costs. Supporters of remote work argue the state should consider that projected savings especially \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/01/09/california-faces-a-bleak-budget-year-but-not-as-gloomy-as-some-expected/\">as it faces a bleak budget outlook\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"ArtP-headline\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.ijpr.org/food-and-agriculture/2026-02-26/far-northern-california-uses-food-assistance-more-than-rest-of-state\">\u003cstrong>Far Northern California uses food assistance more than rest of state\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"ArtP-subheadline\">Almost a quarter of adults in Humboldt County are enrolled in CalFresh. This puts the county at the 9th highest enrollment in California, up from 19th in 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 14% of \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/california.department.of.social.services/viz/CFdashboard-PUBLIC/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California residents\u003c/a> use \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://benefitscal.com/Help/program/calfresh/HCPDE?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CalFresh, the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program\u003c/a>. But usage in the far northern portion of the state is much higher, according to \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://ucdavis.app.box.com/s/eplylnar0l5ipuo1133faf8bqk70wzok\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a report\u003c/a> from the \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of California, Davis\u003c/a>. In Del Norte County, total participation is 24.8%, in Humboldt County, it’s 22.4%, Siskiyou County is 22.3%, and it’s 20.2% in Trinity County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The report noted that higher participation in CalFresh often aligns with other indicators of economic insecurity, including poverty and unemployment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://ucdavis.app.box.com/s/txzfnjf75xlnbmx20h3g9u6f9dmxh1uq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">analysis from UC Davis\u003c/a>, using data from 2014 to 2024, found workers in Humboldt County earn less than those in the rest of California. Median household income in Humboldt County rose about $17,000 over 10 years, adjusted for inflation, while it increased by about $38,000 statewide. That means income grew by about 43% in Humboldt County compared to almost 62% statewide. Despite an unemployment rate typically below the state average, more than 6% of people in Humboldt work full-time, year round and still live in poverty. That share has almost doubled since 2014, while decreasing statewide.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"routes-Site-routes-Post-Title-__Title__title\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000206/officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park\">\u003cstrong>Officials confirm small bird flu ‘outbreak’ in elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Scientists have confirmed that seven weaned northern elephant seal pups at Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as H5N1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The confirmation, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, marks \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a marine mammal. Researchers estimate that about 30 seals, mostly recently weaned pups, plus one adult male, have died so far. Additional samples are still being processed, and officials say the outbreak appears to have been caught early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Field teams already monitoring the colony noticed a slight uptick in dead seals late last week and observed animals showing neurological symptoms, including tremors, weakness and seizure-like activity. During a post-mortem exam on one known female weaned pup, veterinarians found signs that the disease moved quickly. “The animal was in excellent nutritional condition,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian at UC Santa Cruz. “That means she likely died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic.” Moriarty said the seal showed significant damage to the brain and lungs — findings consistent with the neurological symptoms researchers had observed in the seals out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sacramento County is home to California’s largest community of state workers, around 90,000 people. Governor Gavin Newsom says he wants them to come back into the office starting this summer — many still work remotely part time following the pandemic. But state worker unions hope \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/02/23/union-backed-bill-would-require-telework-options-for-california-state-workers/\">a new bill will protect their ability to telework\u003c/a> indefinitely.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Humboldt County, low wages are leading to high rates of poverty and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ijpr.org/food-and-agriculture/2026-02-26/far-northern-california-uses-food-assistance-more-than-rest-of-state\">greater enrollment in the state food program CalFresh.\u003c/a> \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Along the coast of San Mateo County, elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park could be experiencing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000206/officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park\">a “small outbreak” of bird flu\u003c/a>, according to scientists.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 class=\"page-title\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/02/23/union-backed-bill-would-require-telework-options-for-california-state-workers/\">\u003cstrong>Union-backed bill would require telework options for California state workers\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On any given day before the pandemic, hundreds of workers would walk the sidewalks circling the State Capitol in Sacramento on their lunch breaks. But it isn’t as busy in the downtown Capitol corridor as it used to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A big part of that is state workers are still working remotely a few days a week. Sacramento County is home to California’s largest concentration of state employees – just under 90,000 workers. Gina Garcia-Smith is one of them. She is a former school teacher and now works as a program consultant for the California Department of Education located in downtown Sacramento. Garcia-Smith said the option to work from home has allowed her more flexibility, especially after becoming a new parent. “I’m able to do my job remotely for three days out of the week, that really has improved my quality of life and the amount of time I’m able to spend with my daughter,” Garcia-Smith said. “I’m not, you know, stuck in traffic. I’m able to be present.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered most state employees to return to the office four days a week starting July 1, 2026, up from a required twice per week. The mandate received pushback from state workers, including Garcia-Smith, who said the ability to telework is a big draw for state jobs. “If we really want to attract and retain quality state workers, it’s really important to be able to provide some incentive because clearly pay is not the incentive that’s being provided,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Garcia-Smith’s union, SEIU Local 1000 is backing a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1729\">bill\u003c/a> this year that would require state agencies to continue offering telework. Other unions representing state workers also support the measure, including CAPS UAW Local 1115, AFSCME 2620, CASE, and PECG. Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee of Milpitas authored the legislation. His district encompasses Silicon Valley where private-sector telework is typical. Lee argued state workers should continue to benefit from that same opportunity. “This has allowed for people to move further away from Sacramento in places that are more affordable, close to their family networks, instead of all being concentrated in one area. And this has a lot of great potential benefits for the workers themselves,” Lee said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 2025 State Auditor \u003ca href=\"https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2024-118/\">report\u003c/a> estimated that continued telework for state employees would save California around $225 million a year in real estate and facility costs. Supporters of remote work argue the state should consider that projected savings especially \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/01/09/california-faces-a-bleak-budget-year-but-not-as-gloomy-as-some-expected/\">as it faces a bleak budget outlook\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"ArtP-headline\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.ijpr.org/food-and-agriculture/2026-02-26/far-northern-california-uses-food-assistance-more-than-rest-of-state\">\u003cstrong>Far Northern California uses food assistance more than rest of state\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"ArtP-subheadline\">Almost a quarter of adults in Humboldt County are enrolled in CalFresh. This puts the county at the 9th highest enrollment in California, up from 19th in 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 14% of \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/california.department.of.social.services/viz/CFdashboard-PUBLIC/Home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California residents\u003c/a> use \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://benefitscal.com/Help/program/calfresh/HCPDE?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CalFresh, the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program\u003c/a>. But usage in the far northern portion of the state is much higher, according to \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://ucdavis.app.box.com/s/eplylnar0l5ipuo1133faf8bqk70wzok\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a report\u003c/a> from the \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of California, Davis\u003c/a>. In Del Norte County, total participation is 24.8%, in Humboldt County, it’s 22.4%, Siskiyou County is 22.3%, and it’s 20.2% in Trinity County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The report noted that higher participation in CalFresh often aligns with other indicators of economic insecurity, including poverty and unemployment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://ucdavis.app.box.com/s/txzfnjf75xlnbmx20h3g9u6f9dmxh1uq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">analysis from UC Davis\u003c/a>, using data from 2014 to 2024, found workers in Humboldt County earn less than those in the rest of California. Median household income in Humboldt County rose about $17,000 over 10 years, adjusted for inflation, while it increased by about $38,000 statewide. That means income grew by about 43% in Humboldt County compared to almost 62% statewide. Despite an unemployment rate typically below the state average, more than 6% of people in Humboldt work full-time, year round and still live in poverty. That share has almost doubled since 2014, while decreasing statewide.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"routes-Site-routes-Post-Title-__Title__title\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000206/officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park\">\u003cstrong>Officials confirm small bird flu ‘outbreak’ in elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Scientists have confirmed that seven weaned northern elephant seal pups at Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as H5N1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The confirmation, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, marks \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a marine mammal. Researchers estimate that about 30 seals, mostly recently weaned pups, plus one adult male, have died so far. Additional samples are still being processed, and officials say the outbreak appears to have been caught early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Field teams already monitoring the colony noticed a slight uptick in dead seals late last week and observed animals showing neurological symptoms, including tremors, weakness and seizure-like activity. During a post-mortem exam on one known female weaned pup, veterinarians found signs that the disease moved quickly. “The animal was in excellent nutritional condition,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian at UC Santa Cruz. “That means she likely died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic.” Moriarty said the seal showed significant damage to the brain and lungs — findings consistent with the neurological symptoms researchers had observed in the seals out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "how-to-find-free-museum-tickets-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "How to Find Free Museum Tickets in the Bay Area",
"publishDate": 1767989737,
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"headTitle": "How to Find Free Museum Tickets in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you’re looking for free \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022427/things-to-do-in-the-bay-area-families-events-live-music-listings-newsletters\">things to do in the Bay Area\u003c/a>, especially during the rain — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13929182/7-ways-to-keep-your-cool-with-young-kids-this-summer\">need ideas for fun cheap things to do with kids \u003c/a>— our region has dozens of museums, ranging from immersive experiences at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, to planetariums and giant telescopes at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, plus extensive art collections at the San José Museum of Art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=\"arts_13929182\" hero=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/RS58459_032_KQED_HeatWaveConcord_09082022-qut-1020x680.jpg\"]Visiting a museum when you’re paying full price can be expensive, especially with a larger family. But there are several ways to find free or low-cost tickets for Bay Area museums, from regular free days to using your library card or your EBT card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for a list of free days at major local museums, as well as details of free museum entry for kids. Alternatively, jump straight to more options for finding free museum tickets:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freemuseumlibrarycard\">I have a library card\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freemuseumebt\">I have an EBT card\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freemuseumbankofamerica\">I have a Bank of America or Merrill credit or debit card\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Go on a museum’s free day\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You don’t mind being flexible about which museum you visit.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the museums in the Bay Area have certain days on which it’s totally free to enter — usually in the first week of every month. Often, these free days will have no conditions attached. But sometimes, you’ll need to prove you’re a resident of that city or region, with photo ID. We’ve marked with an asterisk (\u003cstrong>*\u003c/strong>) the museums that only extend this promotion to residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that special exhibits are rarely included in free general admission, and that some museums could have a crowd capacity limit on free days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a specific museum you want to visit for free, the most reliable way to find their free day(s) is to search for their website and find details of any free days they offer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Otherwise, here’s just some of the major Bay Area museums with free days each month, plus the days they offer them and any residency requirements. Be sure to click through to see details of free entry, including whether online reservations are needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://about.asianart.org/plan-your-visit/\">Asian Art Museum Free First Sundays\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Asian Art Museum is free on the first Sunday of the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://about.asianart.org/plan-your-visit/\">Free always for ages 12 and under.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/visit/free-reduced-admission\">de Young Museum and Legion of Honor\u003c/a>*\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/events/free-saturdays-de-young\">Free Saturdays at the de Young Museum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/events/free-saturdays-legion-of-honor\">Free Saturdays at the Legion of Honor\u003c/a> offer free admission for Bay Area residents every Saturday. \u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/visit/free-reduced-admission\">Both museums are free for all, not just Bay Area residents, on the first Tuesday of every month.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong> Free always for ages 17 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.moadsf.org/events#events-calendar\">\u003cstrong>Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MoAD offers free admission with its THRIVE @ MoAD Community Day every second Saturday of the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong> Free always for ages 11 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/first-sundays/\">Oakland Museum of California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the first Sunday of every month, general admission at the Oakland Museum of California is free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages 12 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chabot offers free telescope viewing (not museum entry) on Friday and Saturdays 7:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m., weather permitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages under 2.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/event/free-first-thursdays\">\u003cstrong>BAMPFA, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BAMPFA offers free entry to all galleries on the first Thursday of each month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages 18 and under, and one adult accompanying a child age 13 and under also gets free admission.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://sjmusart.org/hours-and-admission\">\u003cstrong>San José Museum of Art\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Free admission after 6 p.m. on the first Friday of every month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages 17 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/free-days/#family-day\">SFMOMA Free Days\u003c/a>*\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Please note that as of January, SFMOMA has “temporarily paused” its Free Day program, which previously offered free admission for Bay Area residents on the first Thursday of the month. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/free-days/#free-family-days\">The next SFMOMA Free Family Day in 2026 is still scheduled for Sunday, June 14\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/visit/\"> Free always for ages 18 and under.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Regularly scheduled free days aren’t the only way to visit a museum near you for free or a small cost. Keep reading for more ways to find free or low-cost tickets to museums in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freemuseumlibrarycard\">\u003c/a>Get free entry with your library card thanks to a Discover and Go pass\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You have a Bay Area library card, and don’t mind some forward planning.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a library card in the Bay Area, you can use the local Discover and Go program, which offers free or low-cost passes to museums and other attractions. You’ll need to already have a library card to choose and secure a Discover and Go pass, and each pass is attached to a specific venue, for a specific date. (That is, you can’t get a blanket Discover and Go pass to use across several venues.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Which museums can I get free or low-cost entry to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The list of participating Discover and Go sites includes museums, zoos and other attractions around the Bay Area, including the \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/\">California Academy of Sciences\u003c/a>, the\u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/\"> Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exploratorium.edu/\">Exploratorium\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://discoverandgo.org/venues/venuenames.php\">See a full list of Bay Area museums and attractions offering Discover and Go passes.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I go?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It depends. Different museums and attractions will make Discover and Go passes available for different days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do I get these free or low-cost museum tickets? How many tickets can I get?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before you head out, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.discoverandgo.org/\">secure your Discover and Go passes online\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> and bring along either the printed pass or have it downloaded on your phone. You’ll also need to show valid photo ID at the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each venue has different rules on how many adults and kids can get free entry with a Discover and Go pass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.discoverandgo.org/\">\u003cstrong>To secure a pass, visit discoverandgo.org\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, select your local library and log in with your library credentials (your library card number and your PIN). You’ll then select the date you’re looking for and see which venues have Discover and Go passes available to reserve. You can have two active reservations per library card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you need more help, the East Bay family blog \u003ca href=\"https://www.510families.com/about-us/\">510families.com\u003c/a> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.510families.com/discover-go/\">a detailed guide to successfully finding Discover and Go passes\u003c/a> at local museums.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freemuseumebt\">\u003c/a>Get free or low-cost museum tickets with your EBT card\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You already have an EBT card, want flexibility with dates and have a larger group.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://museums4all.org/\">Museums for All program\u003c/a> offers free or low-cost entry to many museums nationwide for people receiving \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/calfresh\">CalFresh food benefits\u003c/a> (also known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/361\">SNAP\u003c/a>, or food stamps). San Francisco has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/san-francisco-museums-all\">its own local version of the program\u003c/a>, which also includes city residents who are on Medi-Cal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Which museums can I get free or low-cost entry to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://museums4all.org/#!\">Museums for All program\u003c/a> includes the \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/\">California Academy of Sciences\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exploratorium.edu/\">Exploratorium\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://deyoung.famsf.org/\">de Young Museum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/\">Legion of Honor\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/\">Oakland Museum of California\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/\">Filoli Historic House and Garden\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>See a \u003ca href=\"https://museums4all.org/#!\">full list of all the Bay Area museums participating in the Museums for All program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I go?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anytime, usually, but be aware that some museums will ask you to also make a reservation online for entry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do I get these free or low-cost museum tickets? How many tickets can I get?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All you usually have to do to get free or reduced access is show your EBT card — the card you receive your benefits funds on — and a valid ID at the entrance, and ask for Museums for All tickets. For some museums, you may also have to make online reservations too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Up to four individuals per \u003ca>EBT (electronic benefit transfer) card\u003c/a> can get Museum for All tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We recommend that you \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11915329/how-to-get-free-or-low-cost-museum-entry-this-summer-with-your-ebt-card\">read our 2022 guide to how to redeem your free or low-cost ticket with your EBT card before you go\u003c/a>, since some museums have different rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are a San Francisco resident and want to use the city’s local version of the program, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/san-francisco-museums-all\">which covers 22 museums and cultural institutions\u003c/a>, you will have to bring an ID that shows you are an SF resident, as well as your EBT or Medi-Cal card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11974262/extra-discounts-your-ebt-card-could-offer-from-free-museums-to-the-farmers-market\">Read more about the discounts your EBT card can get you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freemuseumbankofamerica\">\u003c/a>Visit on a Bank of America free museum day\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You have an eligible credit or debit card, and don’t mind being tied to a specific weekend.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a Bank of America credit or debit card, or a Merrill credit or debit card, you can get free entry to several Bay Area museums on the first weekend of every month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Which museums can I get free or low-cost entry to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Museums that offer this free entry as part of Bank of America’s Museums on Us program include the \u003ca href=\"https://sjmusart.org/\">San José Museum of Art\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://deyoung.famsf.org/\">de Young Museum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/\">Legion of Honor\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/\">the Oakland Museum of California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-find-locations-map\">See a map of participating museums around the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I go?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bank of America Museums on Us program applies to the first \u003cem>full\u003c/em> weekend every month. In 2026, those weekends are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>January 2 and 3, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>February 7 and 8, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>March 7 and 8, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>April 4 and 5, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 2 and 3, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>June 6 and 7, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 4 and 5, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>August 1 and 2, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>September 5 and 6, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>October 3 and 4, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>November 7 and 8, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>December 5 and 6, 2026.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do I get these free or low-cost museum tickets? How many can I get?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/arts-and-culture#museums-on-us\">Show your (active, not expired) Bank of America credit or debit card\u003c/a>, or a Merrill credit or debit card and a photo ID when you enter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each credit or debit card will get you only \u003ca href=\"https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/arts-and-culture#museums-on-us\">one free general admission ticket\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A version of this story originally published on Aug. 9, 2023, and contains reporting by KQED’s Jasmine Garnett, Sarah Mohamad and Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "All the ways to find free museum admission in the Bay Area — especially if you're looking for things to do with the kids (even if it's raining).",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you’re looking for free \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022427/things-to-do-in-the-bay-area-families-events-live-music-listings-newsletters\">things to do in the Bay Area\u003c/a>, especially during the rain — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13929182/7-ways-to-keep-your-cool-with-young-kids-this-summer\">need ideas for fun cheap things to do with kids \u003c/a>— our region has dozens of museums, ranging from immersive experiences at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, to planetariums and giant telescopes at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, plus extensive art collections at the San José Museum of Art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Visiting a museum when you’re paying full price can be expensive, especially with a larger family. But there are several ways to find free or low-cost tickets for Bay Area museums, from regular free days to using your library card or your EBT card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for a list of free days at major local museums, as well as details of free museum entry for kids. Alternatively, jump straight to more options for finding free museum tickets:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freemuseumlibrarycard\">I have a library card\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freemuseumebt\">I have an EBT card\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freemuseumbankofamerica\">I have a Bank of America or Merrill credit or debit card\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Go on a museum’s free day\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You don’t mind being flexible about which museum you visit.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the museums in the Bay Area have certain days on which it’s totally free to enter — usually in the first week of every month. Often, these free days will have no conditions attached. But sometimes, you’ll need to prove you’re a resident of that city or region, with photo ID. We’ve marked with an asterisk (\u003cstrong>*\u003c/strong>) the museums that only extend this promotion to residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that special exhibits are rarely included in free general admission, and that some museums could have a crowd capacity limit on free days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a specific museum you want to visit for free, the most reliable way to find their free day(s) is to search for their website and find details of any free days they offer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Otherwise, here’s just some of the major Bay Area museums with free days each month, plus the days they offer them and any residency requirements. Be sure to click through to see details of free entry, including whether online reservations are needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://about.asianart.org/plan-your-visit/\">Asian Art Museum Free First Sundays\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Asian Art Museum is free on the first Sunday of the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://about.asianart.org/plan-your-visit/\">Free always for ages 12 and under.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/visit/free-reduced-admission\">de Young Museum and Legion of Honor\u003c/a>*\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/events/free-saturdays-de-young\">Free Saturdays at the de Young Museum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/events/free-saturdays-legion-of-honor\">Free Saturdays at the Legion of Honor\u003c/a> offer free admission for Bay Area residents every Saturday. \u003ca href=\"https://www.famsf.org/visit/free-reduced-admission\">Both museums are free for all, not just Bay Area residents, on the first Tuesday of every month.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong> Free always for ages 17 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.moadsf.org/events#events-calendar\">\u003cstrong>Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MoAD offers free admission with its THRIVE @ MoAD Community Day every second Saturday of the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong> Free always for ages 11 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/first-sundays/\">Oakland Museum of California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the first Sunday of every month, general admission at the Oakland Museum of California is free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages 12 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chabot offers free telescope viewing (not museum entry) on Friday and Saturdays 7:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m., weather permitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages under 2.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/event/free-first-thursdays\">\u003cstrong>BAMPFA, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BAMPFA offers free entry to all galleries on the first Thursday of each month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages 18 and under, and one adult accompanying a child age 13 and under also gets free admission.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://sjmusart.org/hours-and-admission\">\u003cstrong>San José Museum of Art\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Free admission after 6 p.m. on the first Friday of every month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here? \u003c/strong>Free always for ages 17 and under.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/free-days/#family-day\">SFMOMA Free Days\u003c/a>*\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Please note that as of January, SFMOMA has “temporarily paused” its Free Day program, which previously offered free admission for Bay Area residents on the first Thursday of the month. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/free-days/#free-family-days\">The next SFMOMA Free Family Day in 2026 is still scheduled for Sunday, June 14\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Free museum entry for kids here?\u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/visit/\"> Free always for ages 18 and under.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Regularly scheduled free days aren’t the only way to visit a museum near you for free or a small cost. Keep reading for more ways to find free or low-cost tickets to museums in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freemuseumlibrarycard\">\u003c/a>Get free entry with your library card thanks to a Discover and Go pass\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You have a Bay Area library card, and don’t mind some forward planning.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a library card in the Bay Area, you can use the local Discover and Go program, which offers free or low-cost passes to museums and other attractions. You’ll need to already have a library card to choose and secure a Discover and Go pass, and each pass is attached to a specific venue, for a specific date. (That is, you can’t get a blanket Discover and Go pass to use across several venues.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Which museums can I get free or low-cost entry to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The list of participating Discover and Go sites includes museums, zoos and other attractions around the Bay Area, including the \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/\">California Academy of Sciences\u003c/a>, the\u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/\"> Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exploratorium.edu/\">Exploratorium\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://discoverandgo.org/venues/venuenames.php\">See a full list of Bay Area museums and attractions offering Discover and Go passes.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I go?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It depends. Different museums and attractions will make Discover and Go passes available for different days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do I get these free or low-cost museum tickets? How many tickets can I get?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before you head out, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.discoverandgo.org/\">secure your Discover and Go passes online\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> and bring along either the printed pass or have it downloaded on your phone. You’ll also need to show valid photo ID at the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each venue has different rules on how many adults and kids can get free entry with a Discover and Go pass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.discoverandgo.org/\">\u003cstrong>To secure a pass, visit discoverandgo.org\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, select your local library and log in with your library credentials (your library card number and your PIN). You’ll then select the date you’re looking for and see which venues have Discover and Go passes available to reserve. You can have two active reservations per library card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you need more help, the East Bay family blog \u003ca href=\"https://www.510families.com/about-us/\">510families.com\u003c/a> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.510families.com/discover-go/\">a detailed guide to successfully finding Discover and Go passes\u003c/a> at local museums.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freemuseumebt\">\u003c/a>Get free or low-cost museum tickets with your EBT card\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You already have an EBT card, want flexibility with dates and have a larger group.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://museums4all.org/\">Museums for All program\u003c/a> offers free or low-cost entry to many museums nationwide for people receiving \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/calfresh\">CalFresh food benefits\u003c/a> (also known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/361\">SNAP\u003c/a>, or food stamps). San Francisco has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/san-francisco-museums-all\">its own local version of the program\u003c/a>, which also includes city residents who are on Medi-Cal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Which museums can I get free or low-cost entry to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://museums4all.org/#!\">Museums for All program\u003c/a> includes the \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/\">California Academy of Sciences\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exploratorium.edu/\">Exploratorium\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://deyoung.famsf.org/\">de Young Museum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/\">Legion of Honor\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://chabotspace.org/\">Chabot Space and Science Center\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/\">Oakland Museum of California\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/\">Filoli Historic House and Garden\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>See a \u003ca href=\"https://museums4all.org/#!\">full list of all the Bay Area museums participating in the Museums for All program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I go?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anytime, usually, but be aware that some museums will ask you to also make a reservation online for entry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do I get these free or low-cost museum tickets? How many tickets can I get?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All you usually have to do to get free or reduced access is show your EBT card — the card you receive your benefits funds on — and a valid ID at the entrance, and ask for Museums for All tickets. For some museums, you may also have to make online reservations too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Up to four individuals per \u003ca>EBT (electronic benefit transfer) card\u003c/a> can get Museum for All tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We recommend that you \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11915329/how-to-get-free-or-low-cost-museum-entry-this-summer-with-your-ebt-card\">read our 2022 guide to how to redeem your free or low-cost ticket with your EBT card before you go\u003c/a>, since some museums have different rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are a San Francisco resident and want to use the city’s local version of the program, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/san-francisco-museums-all\">which covers 22 museums and cultural institutions\u003c/a>, you will have to bring an ID that shows you are an SF resident, as well as your EBT or Medi-Cal card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11974262/extra-discounts-your-ebt-card-could-offer-from-free-museums-to-the-farmers-market\">Read more about the discounts your EBT card can get you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freemuseumbankofamerica\">\u003c/a>Visit on a Bank of America free museum day\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Best if: You have an eligible credit or debit card, and don’t mind being tied to a specific weekend.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a Bank of America credit or debit card, or a Merrill credit or debit card, you can get free entry to several Bay Area museums on the first weekend of every month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Which museums can I get free or low-cost entry to?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Museums that offer this free entry as part of Bank of America’s Museums on Us program include the \u003ca href=\"https://sjmusart.org/\">San José Museum of Art\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://deyoung.famsf.org/\">de Young Museum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/\">Legion of Honor\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/\">the Oakland Museum of California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-find-locations-map\">See a map of participating museums around the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I go?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bank of America Museums on Us program applies to the first \u003cem>full\u003c/em> weekend every month. In 2026, those weekends are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>January 2 and 3, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>February 7 and 8, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>March 7 and 8, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>April 4 and 5, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 2 and 3, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>June 6 and 7, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 4 and 5, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>August 1 and 2, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>September 5 and 6, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>October 3 and 4, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>November 7 and 8, 2026\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>December 5 and 6, 2026.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do I get these free or low-cost museum tickets? How many can I get?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/arts-and-culture#museums-on-us\">Show your (active, not expired) Bank of America credit or debit card\u003c/a>, or a Merrill credit or debit card and a photo ID when you enter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each credit or debit card will get you only \u003ca href=\"https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/arts-and-culture#museums-on-us\">one free general admission ticket\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A version of this story originally published on Aug. 9, 2023, and contains reporting by KQED’s Jasmine Garnett, Sarah Mohamad and Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "On CalFresh? How to Get $60 of Free Fruits and Vegetables Each Month",
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"headTitle": "On CalFresh? How to Get $60 of Free Fruits and Vegetables Each Month | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>It’s only been a month since\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\"> the federal government shutdown\u003c/a> caused the 5.5 million Californians who use CalFresh — the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — to see their payments delayed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And although payments of SNAP (formerly referred to as food stamps) have restarted, another holiday season is around the corner, putting extra strain on folks who are food insecure in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One positive development: the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program — a state program offering SNAP recipients up to $60 of free produce each month — has restarted as of November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://a24.asmdc.org/press-releases/20251120-calfresh-program-relaunches-make-healthy-food-more-affordable\">The program, which first launched in 2023\u003c/a>, is dependent on state-allocated annual funds that are spent until they’re used up, and the 2024 cycle ran out for CalFresh users back in January of this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this year, the program has received an injection of $36 million, which is projected to last until summer 2026.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In previous years, the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program has made “a real, real difference to so many families,” before its funds were used up, said Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José), who chairs the state Legislature’s Human Services Committee with oversight of CalFresh policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11792620\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11792620 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/12/ap_17271692702067-ea1b97e98e157d598fa245d9c752f917e6c25c57-e1576950264238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program has officially restarted, offering SNAP recipients up to $60 in free monthly produce. \u003ccite>(Danny Moloshok/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But despite that, he said, “still only a small percentage of all CalFresh-eligible families are using it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While only six stores in the Bay Area are participating in the program right now — almost all of them in the South Bay — anyone receiving CalFresh benefits can automatically receive $60 worth of fresh produce each month if they’re able to reach one of these locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program works, where it’s available and how to redeem your money in-store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you don’t need this information yourself right now, consider sharing it with someone else who might: “One in five Californians suffer from food insecurity,” Lee said. “So statistically speaking, you are, or you know someone who is struggling with food.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can anyone on CalFresh use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: If you receive any CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, you have automatic access to the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program at participating stores (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t need to apply for anything, as your EBT card itself is your proof of eligibility.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program in any store that accepts EBT?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: You’ll need to visit one of the specific stores participating in the program.[aside postID=news_11974262 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/GettyImages-1322106041-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg']In the Bay Area, almost all of these stores are in Santa Clara County:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Santa Fe Foods, 860 White Road, San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 204 Willow St., San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 1003 Lincoln Ave., San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 2620 Alum Rock Ave., San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 6906 Automall Pkwy., Gilroy\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In Alameda County, you can use the program at:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Santa Fe Foods, 7356 Thornton Ave., Newark\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>There are also participating stores in Monterey and Salinas counties, and several in the Los Angeles area. See a full list of grocery stores participating in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project\">the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program in the store?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First, make sure you’re in one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project\">the stores participating in the program\u003c/a> — mistakes can happen — and that you’ve brought your EBT card with you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next, do your shopping as normal, and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables as part of your trip. You don’t have to separate the produce or pay for it in a different transaction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the register, tell the cashier you’d like to use your EBT card to pay for your shopping, like you usually would. When it comes to the fresh fruits and vegetables in your cart, you’ll initially see the costs of those particular items come off your EBT funds — but then those funds will be immediately returned, making that produce effectively free at the register.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11943822\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11943822 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-1144627849-scaled-e1764880413771.jpg\" alt=\"A young Asian man with short dark hair and round glasses carries a 1-year-old girl, with tiny black pigtails, in a harness on his chest, with the girl facing out. They stand in the light of a vegetable display in a supermarket. The man holds a plastic container full of green vegetables, maybe cucumbers, smiling as his daughter reaches out to touch the box.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you receive any CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, you have automatic access to the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program at participating stores. \u003ccite>(d3sign/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Another way of seeing it: If your cart amounts to $15 of EBT-eligible food, including $5 of produce, you’ll initially see $15 debited from your card on the screen — but then you’ll see the instant rebate of $5 for your produce, meaning your final receipt will only be $10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People don’t have to enroll and do anything different; they don’t have to keep track of some paper coupon or some other card,” said Eli Zigas, executive director of Fullwell: the Bay Area nonprofit advocacy organization partnering with the state to administer the program this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s all built into the EBT card at the participating locations,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while you can get these instant rebates for up to $60 worth of produce each month, remember: You don’t have to “spend” that $60 up in one transaction. Your EBT will automatically keep track of your produce purchases and just stop issuing the instant rebates once you’ve hit that $60 cap for the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Does the amount of produce I can buy using the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program depend on how much I’m receiving in CalFresh benefits?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: Every CalFresh household can get up to $60 of free fresh fruits and vegetables with their EBT card, regardless of the amount of benefits they receive. It’s a flat amount for all SNAP users in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>My EBT balance is at $0 right now. Can I still use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: To get the instant rebate on money spent on fresh fruit and vegetables, you’ll first need to actually spend those funds using your EBT card — even though you’ll immediately get the money back onto that card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have any money on your EBT card available, you’ll have to wait until your CalFresh funds are reloaded next month to be able to use the program again. But remember that if your EBT funds are running low, you can still spend a smaller amount — or whatever’s available on your card — on fresh fruit and vegetables and receive the money back instantly, until you’ve maxed out that $60-per-month cap.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is there a deadline to use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The $36 million approved in the most recent state budget by the California legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom for the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program “is three and a half times more money than this program has ever had previously for an annual cycle,” Zigas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In previous years, Lee said, the funding would last for different periods “because the program was so wildly successful and oversubscribed that it would run out for a while.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11104718\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11104718 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/09/11104717-thumb-e1764880797557.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1350\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CalFresh (SNAP) recipients have automatic access to the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program at participating stores. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So what about 2026? “We estimate, based on previous usage, that the program will have funds to run through the summer,” Zigas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after summer arrives, Zigas said, “it’s all going to depend on what the usage is, and whether there’s renewed funding.” So while you still have many months to try the program, you shouldn’t wait too long — not least because each month that passes will bring another $60 for you to spend on produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the wake of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062685/eating-for-survival-with-november-snap-delays-how-will-bay-area-families-cope\">the SNAP delays caused by the government shutdown\u003c/a>, “I think people have seen recently more than ever before how important CalFresh is and how much people are struggling to put food on the table,” Zigas said. “We would love to see this program not only operate continuously all year long without interruption, but also expand — because it’s a limited number of grocery stores right now offering this program, and it could be so much bigger.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program the same as Market Match, and can I use both?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://marketmatch.org/\">Market Match\u003c/a> is a statewide program that distributes funds to farmers’ markets across California, allowing people using CalFresh to “match” an amount of their choosing from their EBT card at the market with tokens to spend at that location — essentially doubling their funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial/video/7244672340460637482\" data-video-id=\"7244672340460637482\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@kqedofficial\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@kqedofficial\u003c/a> If you use CalFresh, otherwise known as food stamps, you could be getting extra money to spend at your local farmer’s market. It’s called Market Match, and here’s a step-by-step guide for when you use your EBT card there. \u003ca title=\"calfresh\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/calfresh?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#CalFresh\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"foodstamps\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foodstamps?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#FoodStamps\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"ebt\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ebt?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#EBT\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"farmersmarket\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/farmersmarket?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#FarmersMarket\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - kqed\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7244672377030757162?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – kqed\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>[tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Market Match is a separate state program from the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, but people on CalFresh can use both programs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://marketmatch.org/\">Learn more about the Market Match program\u003c/a>, and watch KQED’s video on how to use your EBT card at your local market.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why does the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program focus on fresh produce specifically?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The program’s focus on fresh fruit and vegetables “is recognizing that CalFresh benefits, as good as they are, are often insufficient for people to afford the food that they want for their families,” Zigas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is especially true of fresh fruits and vegetables, he said, “which are harder to justify buying when you have less income because they’re not shelf stable, and you don’t know if your kids are necessarily going to like them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People would like to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and often just don’t feel like they can make that choice — or afford it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s only been a month since\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\"> the federal government shutdown\u003c/a> caused the 5.5 million Californians who use CalFresh — the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — to see their payments delayed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And although payments of SNAP (formerly referred to as food stamps) have restarted, another holiday season is around the corner, putting extra strain on folks who are food insecure in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One positive development: the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program — a state program offering SNAP recipients up to $60 of free produce each month — has restarted as of November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://a24.asmdc.org/press-releases/20251120-calfresh-program-relaunches-make-healthy-food-more-affordable\">The program, which first launched in 2023\u003c/a>, is dependent on state-allocated annual funds that are spent until they’re used up, and the 2024 cycle ran out for CalFresh users back in January of this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this year, the program has received an injection of $36 million, which is projected to last until summer 2026.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In previous years, the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program has made “a real, real difference to so many families,” before its funds were used up, said Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José), who chairs the state Legislature’s Human Services Committee with oversight of CalFresh policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11792620\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11792620 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/12/ap_17271692702067-ea1b97e98e157d598fa245d9c752f917e6c25c57-e1576950264238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program has officially restarted, offering SNAP recipients up to $60 in free monthly produce. \u003ccite>(Danny Moloshok/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But despite that, he said, “still only a small percentage of all CalFresh-eligible families are using it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While only six stores in the Bay Area are participating in the program right now — almost all of them in the South Bay — anyone receiving CalFresh benefits can automatically receive $60 worth of fresh produce each month if they’re able to reach one of these locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program works, where it’s available and how to redeem your money in-store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you don’t need this information yourself right now, consider sharing it with someone else who might: “One in five Californians suffer from food insecurity,” Lee said. “So statistically speaking, you are, or you know someone who is struggling with food.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can anyone on CalFresh use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: If you receive any CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, you have automatic access to the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program at participating stores (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t need to apply for anything, as your EBT card itself is your proof of eligibility.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program in any store that accepts EBT?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: You’ll need to visit one of the specific stores participating in the program.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In the Bay Area, almost all of these stores are in Santa Clara County:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Santa Fe Foods, 860 White Road, San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 204 Willow St., San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 1003 Lincoln Ave., San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 2620 Alum Rock Ave., San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Arteaga’s Food Center, 6906 Automall Pkwy., Gilroy\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In Alameda County, you can use the program at:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Santa Fe Foods, 7356 Thornton Ave., Newark\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>There are also participating stores in Monterey and Salinas counties, and several in the Los Angeles area. See a full list of grocery stores participating in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project\">the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program in the store?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First, make sure you’re in one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project\">the stores participating in the program\u003c/a> — mistakes can happen — and that you’ve brought your EBT card with you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next, do your shopping as normal, and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables as part of your trip. You don’t have to separate the produce or pay for it in a different transaction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the register, tell the cashier you’d like to use your EBT card to pay for your shopping, like you usually would. When it comes to the fresh fruits and vegetables in your cart, you’ll initially see the costs of those particular items come off your EBT funds — but then those funds will be immediately returned, making that produce effectively free at the register.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11943822\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11943822 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/GettyImages-1144627849-scaled-e1764880413771.jpg\" alt=\"A young Asian man with short dark hair and round glasses carries a 1-year-old girl, with tiny black pigtails, in a harness on his chest, with the girl facing out. They stand in the light of a vegetable display in a supermarket. The man holds a plastic container full of green vegetables, maybe cucumbers, smiling as his daughter reaches out to touch the box.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you receive any CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, you have automatic access to the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program at participating stores. \u003ccite>(d3sign/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Another way of seeing it: If your cart amounts to $15 of EBT-eligible food, including $5 of produce, you’ll initially see $15 debited from your card on the screen — but then you’ll see the instant rebate of $5 for your produce, meaning your final receipt will only be $10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People don’t have to enroll and do anything different; they don’t have to keep track of some paper coupon or some other card,” said Eli Zigas, executive director of Fullwell: the Bay Area nonprofit advocacy organization partnering with the state to administer the program this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s all built into the EBT card at the participating locations,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while you can get these instant rebates for up to $60 worth of produce each month, remember: You don’t have to “spend” that $60 up in one transaction. Your EBT will automatically keep track of your produce purchases and just stop issuing the instant rebates once you’ve hit that $60 cap for the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Does the amount of produce I can buy using the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program depend on how much I’m receiving in CalFresh benefits?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: Every CalFresh household can get up to $60 of free fresh fruits and vegetables with their EBT card, regardless of the amount of benefits they receive. It’s a flat amount for all SNAP users in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>My EBT balance is at $0 right now. Can I still use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: To get the instant rebate on money spent on fresh fruit and vegetables, you’ll first need to actually spend those funds using your EBT card — even though you’ll immediately get the money back onto that card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have any money on your EBT card available, you’ll have to wait until your CalFresh funds are reloaded next month to be able to use the program again. But remember that if your EBT funds are running low, you can still spend a smaller amount — or whatever’s available on your card — on fresh fruit and vegetables and receive the money back instantly, until you’ve maxed out that $60-per-month cap.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is there a deadline to use the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The $36 million approved in the most recent state budget by the California legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom for the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program “is three and a half times more money than this program has ever had previously for an annual cycle,” Zigas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In previous years, Lee said, the funding would last for different periods “because the program was so wildly successful and oversubscribed that it would run out for a while.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11104718\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11104718 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/09/11104717-thumb-e1764880797557.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1350\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CalFresh (SNAP) recipients have automatic access to the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program at participating stores. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So what about 2026? “We estimate, based on previous usage, that the program will have funds to run through the summer,” Zigas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after summer arrives, Zigas said, “it’s all going to depend on what the usage is, and whether there’s renewed funding.” So while you still have many months to try the program, you shouldn’t wait too long — not least because each month that passes will bring another $60 for you to spend on produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the wake of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062685/eating-for-survival-with-november-snap-delays-how-will-bay-area-families-cope\">the SNAP delays caused by the government shutdown\u003c/a>, “I think people have seen recently more than ever before how important CalFresh is and how much people are struggling to put food on the table,” Zigas said. “We would love to see this program not only operate continuously all year long without interruption, but also expand — because it’s a limited number of grocery stores right now offering this program, and it could be so much bigger.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program the same as Market Match, and can I use both?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://marketmatch.org/\">Market Match\u003c/a> is a statewide program that distributes funds to farmers’ markets across California, allowing people using CalFresh to “match” an amount of their choosing from their EBT card at the market with tokens to spend at that location — essentially doubling their funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial/video/7244672340460637482\" data-video-id=\"7244672340460637482\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@kqedofficial\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@kqedofficial\u003c/a> If you use CalFresh, otherwise known as food stamps, you could be getting extra money to spend at your local farmer’s market. It’s called Market Match, and here’s a step-by-step guide for when you use your EBT card there. \u003ca title=\"calfresh\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/calfresh?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#CalFresh\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"foodstamps\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foodstamps?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#FoodStamps\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"ebt\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ebt?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#EBT\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"farmersmarket\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/farmersmarket?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#FarmersMarket\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - kqed\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7244672377030757162?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – kqed\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Market Match is a separate state program from the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, but people on CalFresh can use both programs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://marketmatch.org/\">Learn more about the Market Match program\u003c/a>, and watch KQED’s video on how to use your EBT card at your local market.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why does the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program focus on fresh produce specifically?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The program’s focus on fresh fruit and vegetables “is recognizing that CalFresh benefits, as good as they are, are often insufficient for people to afford the food that they want for their families,” Zigas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is especially true of fresh fruits and vegetables, he said, “which are harder to justify buying when you have less income because they’re not shelf stable, and you don’t know if your kids are necessarily going to like them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People would like to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and often just don’t feel like they can make that choice — or afford it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "snap-benefits-hung-in-limbo-for-weeks-it-was-a-peek-at-life-under-long-term-cuts",
"title": "SNAP Benefits Hung in Limbo for Weeks. It Was a Peek at Life Under Long-Term Cuts",
"publishDate": 1763661252,
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"headTitle": "SNAP Benefits Hung in Limbo for Weeks. It Was a Peek at Life Under Long-Term Cuts | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>She’d been waiting for over an hour, and Trozalla Smith was still nowhere near the front of the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside the East Oakland Collective’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">food pantry,\u003c/a> the mass of people stretched half a block in either direction around her. Women with babies strapped to their backs shifted their weight from one foot to another, bored kids sat on the sidewalk, and elderly men stood stiffly in place as they waited to pick up whatever was left of that week’s offerings — fresh produce, instant ramen, milk and, if they were lucky, eggs and meat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was the end of October, and food pantries were absorbing the shock of around 5.5 million Californians anticipating \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\">delays to their federal food benefits\u003c/a> amid the government shutdown. Unsure of the status of her aid, Smith, 24, was relying entirely on pantries to feed herself and her boyfriend. “It’s our lifeline,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The uncertainty was only the latest reminder of how precarious life on the economic margins already is. The struggle to afford one of the country’s most expensive regions, with grocery prices still soaring, started long before the shutdown and will continue long after it finally ended on Nov. 12.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For two weeks, the country’s largest anti-hunger program hung in the balance — and it may have been only a glimpse of what’s to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Smith and thousands more across the Bay Area scrambled to get by during the shutdown, state leaders were wrestling with a more enduring threat to food aid: policy changes recently signed into law by President Trump that \u003ca href=\"https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/federal-funding-cuts-to-snap-calfresh-will-have-sweeping-impacts-on-californians/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">are expected to reduce\u003c/a> benefits for over 3 million California households.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064444\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064444\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith arrives at the Alameda Food Bank on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>New eligibility limits and benefit reductions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5090\">mean some 400,000 to 750,000 Californians\u003c/a> could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program altogether, according to estimates by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office and policy experts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And all the recent attention on SNAP has \u003ca href=\"https://newrepublic.com/article/203120/trump-snap-food-stamps\">placed the program\u003c/a> in the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/14/trump-usda-snap-participants-reapply-benefits-00651874\">crosshairs\u003c/a>, leading many to brace for still more blows to food aid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are unprecedented changes to the program that will have impacts for many years,” David Swanson Hollinger, chief deputy director at the California Department of Social Services, \u003ca href=\"https://www.senate.ca.gov/media-archive?time%5bmedia-element-18223%5d=2999.428751\">told a state Senate committee\u003c/a> last week, warning that lawmakers will have to “reimagine our path forward.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Everything is so expensive’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some of the newly enacted changes haven’t yet rolled out in California, and others are just beginning to take effect, but staff at the East Oakland Collective said they’d heard from several clients who unexpectedly had their benefits cut in October.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among them was Monica Thompson, a 64-year-old who has breast cancer and was one of the first to get in line that morning. Her assistance was cut from about $300 down to $24, she said, screwing up her face. “What can I do with $24?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the last week of October, the collective had already served 100 more families than usual, according to executive director Candice Elder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064446\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064446\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shopping carts are parked around the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Standing in line that morning, a pregnant woman with a toddler in a stroller checked the state benefits app on her phone for updates. “November benefits will likely be delayed,” Taylor Ducote read, scrolling through the FAQs with exasperation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The fear that we have to live with every day until we find out if we’re going to get it or not … it’s just really nerve-wracking and scary for our kids,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ducote had just gotten housing four months earlier after half a decade of homelessness, and she wondered aloud how she’d pay her rent and utilities if she had to buy food out of pocket. Already, she was desperate by the end of the month.[aside postID=news_12061440 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/013_KQED_SanFranciscoMarinFoodBank_03182020_9229_qed.jpg']The night before, she said, she got caught stealing from a grocery store. She didn’t get arrested, but she was humiliated. “You think I want to be right here stealing so my son can get milk?” she had told the security guard. “Look what I’m stealing: toilet paper, diapers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few miles away, Ana Hoover, 54, stood in line at the Berkeley Food Pantry. She said she’d been out of work since December and was relying on food stamps, pantries and occasional gigs she found through an event staffing company or on NextDoor to make ends meet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every month, she used up her SNAP benefits at least two weeks before they were replenished.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like Ducote, the prospect of losing them altogether left her unsure about how she’d stay housed and take care of other basic needs. She’d been homeless for three years until recently, and she now pays $1,050 a month for a room at the YMCA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everything is so expensive,” she said. “Food stamps doesn’t cover toothpaste, toothbrushes … [and] now the money is also going for food.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064885\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064885\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith shops at the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The added stress of losing her $300 in food aid rippled across her life in ways big and small. It put more obstacles on her path back to the workforce. How would she pay for transportation to jobs? She rationed the mascara, lipstick and deodorant that gave her the confidence to go to interviews.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She had a gig coming up as an usher for an event at the Moscone Center, and she needed an all-black outfit. “I went into a panic because I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, I need to buy black shoes.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She aims to apply for three jobs a day. “I need to be focusing,” she said. “When you’re almost in a panic, how can you focus and how can you be productive?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The power of choice\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The next week, Smith pushed a shopping cart through the Alameda Food Bank. She had applied for CalFresh, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063660/california-moves-to-protect-calfresh-payments-from-federal-confusion-and-chaos\">California’s version of SNAP\u003c/a>, in early October, after she lost her job as a home health aide, and she received emergency benefits for the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While she waited on approval, she created a daily schedule of food pantries and bused from one to another, patching together meals from the hodgepodge of dry goods and produce available and figuring out which were worth her time. This bank, with its brand new building and heaping bins of apples and potatoes, was one of the best she’d found.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064445\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064445\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith shops at the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Today, she was most excited about the fresh strawberries — usually too expensive to buy, and often starting to mold by the time she found them at food pantries. Those pantries rely heavily on the Alameda County Community Food Bank, which fills their shelves with a mix of food from federal programs, donations, bulk farm purchases and surplus groceries that are sometimes on the verge of expiring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to eat it that day or the next, which makes it hard,” Smith said. These berries, though, looked perfectly fresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each bin listed an item limit on the side, so Smith had learned to shop carefully. “You can get four apples,” she said, hunting through the bin for the largest she could find. “You’ll get fuller with a bigger apple, but they tend to be more bruised. It’s a bit like a scavenger hunt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That the new, sprawling food bank was designed to mimic the experience of shopping wasn’t lost on Smith. “I like this place because it makes you feel more like a regular person,” she said. “You get to shop for your food.”[aside postID=news_12063723 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251110-COLLEGE-STUDENTS-CALFRESH-MD-01-KQED.jpg']She was grateful for the semblance of choice, but what the SNAP program provided was the real thing — something people pointed out again and again as they faced the prospect of going without their benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I get to cook. I refuse to go to them fast-food places,” said Anthony Cassidy, standing outside the food bank with a basket full of fruits and vegetables. “I like making stew.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran said he spent decades addicted to heroin, in and out of prison and homelessness, and was now sober and stably housed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m bound and determined to live out my days healthy and free,” he said. “SNAP has really helped me, allowed me to get some food that I like instead of stuff that I had to get.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a single week, Smith spent some 20 hours busing to and from six pantries, waiting in line and picking up food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My body’s tired today, really tired,” she said, the day after her trip to the Alameda Food Bank. She was back in East Oakland, making her way to the bus stop after visiting two food pantries on MacArthur Boulevard. She struggled under the weight of three heavy tote bags loaded with watermelon, butternut squash, potatoes and pears. In her free hand, she balanced a pizza, an unexpected pantry score.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s definitely going to hurt later on tonight,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064448\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith stands across advertisements for CalFresh as she holds her groceries from the Alameda Food Bank at the 12th Street BART Station in Oakland on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Smith has lupus, an autoimmune condition that makes her joints ache and some days, leaves her too exhausted to get out of bed. She was diagnosed at 8 years old, she said, after a series of mysterious rashes, fevers and aches had perplexed doctors for nearly two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2023, the illness forced her to come home from college at Emory University in Atlanta. She developed pericarditis, a swelling of the tissue surrounding her heart, and doctors recommended she take a break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was on a lot of steroids, couldn’t walk at that point,” she said. Still, she was devastated to leave the school, where she was on a pre-med track. “I loved it so much,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back home after a 30-minute bus ride and 10-minute walk, Smith and her boyfriend, 24-year-old Kelinde Secrease, hoisted the groceries onto the counter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She pulled eggs from a tote triumphantly. The pantries often ran out, and she’d gotten in line an hour and a half before the East Oakland Collective opened in order to bring these home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064450\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064450\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith puts away groceries from the Alameda food bank in her fridge at her family home in San Leandro on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A few days earlier, Secrease had caught himself doing something he hadn’t done in a long time: wondering what he wanted to eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I had a realization where I was like, wow — even being able to say ‘What do I want to eat?’ is a very powerful statement that I’m very grateful for,” he said. Before they’d learned to navigate the patchwork of pantries in the area, with Smith out of work and his own hours stuck at just 12 a week, food had been so limited that eating stopped feeling like a choice at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having choices allowed him to enjoy food again. “It doesn’t feel so laborious having to eat because you’re eating something that you really don’t want to,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For people like Smith and Secrease, going without federal food aid doesn’t necessarily mean going hungry. But it pushes their already precarious budget to the breaking point, forcing them to scramble for rent and utilities, bus fare, tampons and toothpaste. Necessity strips away choice, and with it, the small freedoms that make life feel like more than survival. “When you have options, you have freedom,” Secrease said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the moment, the couple figured they had enough food to last them a week. Smith was relieved she’d have that time to focus on applying for jobs and tending to her health. But first they had to chop, freeze, roast and juice their way through the small mountain of produce to keep it from going to waste. After six hours in the kitchen, they had a freezer and refrigerator full of food.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Some relief, but uncertainty remains\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A week into November, Hoover stood in the YMCA residence’s shared kitchen, chopping onion, potato and bell pepper to add to a roasting pan where a whole chicken sizzled in the oven.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I love to cook, it’s one of my favorite things to do,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’d gotten the bird for under $10 at Trader Joe’s; the rest of the meal came from the Berkeley Food Pantry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ana Hoover checks out her groceries at her local Trader Joe’s in Berkeley on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With the month’s food stamps still in limbo amid federal court challenges and the ongoing government shutdown, she called the state’s EBT helpline, hoping for answers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Your CalFresh balance is $0.61,” a recorded voice said. “You have one future benefit added to the account. CalFresh benefits available on Nov. 10 for $298.00.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Oh, my God, what a lifesaver!” Hoover said. “Oh, my God.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. “The stress level — feeling like, how am I going to do this,” she said. “You have no idea what relief.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064441\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064441\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ana Hoover, whose SNAP benefits were delayed by the government shutdown, uses her EBT card to pay for her groceries at her local Trader Joe’s in Berkeley on Nov. 13, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Earlier that week, Smith had come home from a three-hour food pantry trip to a letter from the county. Her CalFresh benefits were being denied, the letter explained, because she had not submitted proof of income. She was deflated and frustrated. “I don’t understand. I don’t have any income,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By mid-November, Smith had landed a part-time nanny position, Secrease was working full-time, midnight to 7 a.m., training robots to fold clothes and bus tables, and Hoover was still picking up gigs while applying for jobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Smith was again waiting to hear back about her CalFresh case after submitting new income documents, and Hoover had $58 left in her account — just enough to make a Thanksgiving meal with the free turkey she’d learned a local pantry was offering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ana Hoover shops at her local Trader Joe’s in Berkeley on Nov. 13, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For both women, the last month had deepened their distrust of a system meant to catch them when they fell. “I have always felt that these types of benefits could end anytime,” Hoover said, but that fear no longer feels hypothetical.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republicans have long sought to cut federal funding for food benefits, implement stricter work requirements and shift the burden to states. After Trump signed some of those restrictions into law this year, the shutdown showed what could follow if federal benefits are further curtailed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Smith took some comfort in knowing she found a way forward through sheer tenacity, but the effort had caused her lupus to flare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As she lay in bed, she hoped the food in the freezer would last long enough for her to recover. Then she’d pull up her pantry schedule, pack her tote bags and do it all over again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The shutdown is over, but the panic over delayed benefits is only the latest reminder of how precarious life is on the economic margins — and what could come under cuts by the Trump administration.",
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"title": "SNAP Benefits Hung in Limbo for Weeks. It Was a Peek at Life Under Long-Term Cuts | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>She’d been waiting for over an hour, and Trozalla Smith was still nowhere near the front of the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside the East Oakland Collective’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">food pantry,\u003c/a> the mass of people stretched half a block in either direction around her. Women with babies strapped to their backs shifted their weight from one foot to another, bored kids sat on the sidewalk, and elderly men stood stiffly in place as they waited to pick up whatever was left of that week’s offerings — fresh produce, instant ramen, milk and, if they were lucky, eggs and meat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was the end of October, and food pantries were absorbing the shock of around 5.5 million Californians anticipating \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\">delays to their federal food benefits\u003c/a> amid the government shutdown. Unsure of the status of her aid, Smith, 24, was relying entirely on pantries to feed herself and her boyfriend. “It’s our lifeline,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The uncertainty was only the latest reminder of how precarious life on the economic margins already is. The struggle to afford one of the country’s most expensive regions, with grocery prices still soaring, started long before the shutdown and will continue long after it finally ended on Nov. 12.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For two weeks, the country’s largest anti-hunger program hung in the balance — and it may have been only a glimpse of what’s to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Smith and thousands more across the Bay Area scrambled to get by during the shutdown, state leaders were wrestling with a more enduring threat to food aid: policy changes recently signed into law by President Trump that \u003ca href=\"https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/federal-funding-cuts-to-snap-calfresh-will-have-sweeping-impacts-on-californians/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">are expected to reduce\u003c/a> benefits for over 3 million California households.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064444\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064444\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00687_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith arrives at the Alameda Food Bank on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>New eligibility limits and benefit reductions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5090\">mean some 400,000 to 750,000 Californians\u003c/a> could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program altogether, according to estimates by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office and policy experts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And all the recent attention on SNAP has \u003ca href=\"https://newrepublic.com/article/203120/trump-snap-food-stamps\">placed the program\u003c/a> in the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/14/trump-usda-snap-participants-reapply-benefits-00651874\">crosshairs\u003c/a>, leading many to brace for still more blows to food aid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are unprecedented changes to the program that will have impacts for many years,” David Swanson Hollinger, chief deputy director at the California Department of Social Services, \u003ca href=\"https://www.senate.ca.gov/media-archive?time%5bmedia-element-18223%5d=2999.428751\">told a state Senate committee\u003c/a> last week, warning that lawmakers will have to “reimagine our path forward.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Everything is so expensive’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some of the newly enacted changes haven’t yet rolled out in California, and others are just beginning to take effect, but staff at the East Oakland Collective said they’d heard from several clients who unexpectedly had their benefits cut in October.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among them was Monica Thompson, a 64-year-old who has breast cancer and was one of the first to get in line that morning. Her assistance was cut from about $300 down to $24, she said, screwing up her face. “What can I do with $24?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the last week of October, the collective had already served 100 more families than usual, according to executive director Candice Elder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064446\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064446\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00936_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shopping carts are parked around the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Standing in line that morning, a pregnant woman with a toddler in a stroller checked the state benefits app on her phone for updates. “November benefits will likely be delayed,” Taylor Ducote read, scrolling through the FAQs with exasperation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The fear that we have to live with every day until we find out if we’re going to get it or not … it’s just really nerve-wracking and scary for our kids,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ducote had just gotten housing four months earlier after half a decade of homelessness, and she wondered aloud how she’d pay her rent and utilities if she had to buy food out of pocket. Already, she was desperate by the end of the month.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The night before, she said, she got caught stealing from a grocery store. She didn’t get arrested, but she was humiliated. “You think I want to be right here stealing so my son can get milk?” she had told the security guard. “Look what I’m stealing: toilet paper, diapers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few miles away, Ana Hoover, 54, stood in line at the Berkeley Food Pantry. She said she’d been out of work since December and was relying on food stamps, pantries and occasional gigs she found through an event staffing company or on NextDoor to make ends meet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every month, she used up her SNAP benefits at least two weeks before they were replenished.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like Ducote, the prospect of losing them altogether left her unsure about how she’d stay housed and take care of other basic needs. She’d been homeless for three years until recently, and she now pays $1,050 a month for a room at the YMCA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everything is so expensive,” she said. “Food stamps doesn’t cover toothpaste, toothbrushes … [and] now the money is also going for food.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064885\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064885\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPdelaysfeature00921_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith shops at the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The added stress of losing her $300 in food aid rippled across her life in ways big and small. It put more obstacles on her path back to the workforce. How would she pay for transportation to jobs? She rationed the mascara, lipstick and deodorant that gave her the confidence to go to interviews.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She had a gig coming up as an usher for an event at the Moscone Center, and she needed an all-black outfit. “I went into a panic because I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, I need to buy black shoes.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She aims to apply for three jobs a day. “I need to be focusing,” she said. “When you’re almost in a panic, how can you focus and how can you be productive?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The power of choice\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The next week, Smith pushed a shopping cart through the Alameda Food Bank. She had applied for CalFresh, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063660/california-moves-to-protect-calfresh-payments-from-federal-confusion-and-chaos\">California’s version of SNAP\u003c/a>, in early October, after she lost her job as a home health aide, and she received emergency benefits for the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While she waited on approval, she created a daily schedule of food pantries and bused from one to another, patching together meals from the hodgepodge of dry goods and produce available and figuring out which were worth her time. This bank, with its brand new building and heaping bins of apples and potatoes, was one of the best she’d found.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064445\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064445\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00731_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith shops at the Alameda Food Bank on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Today, she was most excited about the fresh strawberries — usually too expensive to buy, and often starting to mold by the time she found them at food pantries. Those pantries rely heavily on the Alameda County Community Food Bank, which fills their shelves with a mix of food from federal programs, donations, bulk farm purchases and surplus groceries that are sometimes on the verge of expiring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to eat it that day or the next, which makes it hard,” Smith said. These berries, though, looked perfectly fresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each bin listed an item limit on the side, so Smith had learned to shop carefully. “You can get four apples,” she said, hunting through the bin for the largest she could find. “You’ll get fuller with a bigger apple, but they tend to be more bruised. It’s a bit like a scavenger hunt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That the new, sprawling food bank was designed to mimic the experience of shopping wasn’t lost on Smith. “I like this place because it makes you feel more like a regular person,” she said. “You get to shop for your food.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>She was grateful for the semblance of choice, but what the SNAP program provided was the real thing — something people pointed out again and again as they faced the prospect of going without their benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I get to cook. I refuse to go to them fast-food places,” said Anthony Cassidy, standing outside the food bank with a basket full of fruits and vegetables. “I like making stew.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran said he spent decades addicted to heroin, in and out of prison and homelessness, and was now sober and stably housed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m bound and determined to live out my days healthy and free,” he said. “SNAP has really helped me, allowed me to get some food that I like instead of stuff that I had to get.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a single week, Smith spent some 20 hours busing to and from six pantries, waiting in line and picking up food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My body’s tired today, really tired,” she said, the day after her trip to the Alameda Food Bank. She was back in East Oakland, making her way to the bus stop after visiting two food pantries on MacArthur Boulevard. She struggled under the weight of three heavy tote bags loaded with watermelon, butternut squash, potatoes and pears. In her free hand, she balanced a pizza, an unexpected pantry score.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s definitely going to hurt later on tonight,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064448\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01284_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith stands across advertisements for CalFresh as she holds her groceries from the Alameda Food Bank at the 12th Street BART Station in Oakland on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Smith has lupus, an autoimmune condition that makes her joints ache and some days, leaves her too exhausted to get out of bed. She was diagnosed at 8 years old, she said, after a series of mysterious rashes, fevers and aches had perplexed doctors for nearly two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2023, the illness forced her to come home from college at Emory University in Atlanta. She developed pericarditis, a swelling of the tissue surrounding her heart, and doctors recommended she take a break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was on a lot of steroids, couldn’t walk at that point,” she said. Still, she was devastated to leave the school, where she was on a pre-med track. “I loved it so much,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back home after a 30-minute bus ride and 10-minute walk, Smith and her boyfriend, 24-year-old Kelinde Secrease, hoisted the groceries onto the counter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She pulled eggs from a tote triumphantly. The pantries often ran out, and she’d gotten in line an hour and a half before the East Oakland Collective opened in order to bring these home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064450\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064450\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE01577_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trozalla Smith puts away groceries from the Alameda food bank in her fridge at her family home in San Leandro on Nov. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A few days earlier, Secrease had caught himself doing something he hadn’t done in a long time: wondering what he wanted to eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I had a realization where I was like, wow — even being able to say ‘What do I want to eat?’ is a very powerful statement that I’m very grateful for,” he said. Before they’d learned to navigate the patchwork of pantries in the area, with Smith out of work and his own hours stuck at just 12 a week, food had been so limited that eating stopped feeling like a choice at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having choices allowed him to enjoy food again. “It doesn’t feel so laborious having to eat because you’re eating something that you really don’t want to,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For people like Smith and Secrease, going without federal food aid doesn’t necessarily mean going hungry. But it pushes their already precarious budget to the breaking point, forcing them to scramble for rent and utilities, bus fare, tampons and toothpaste. Necessity strips away choice, and with it, the small freedoms that make life feel like more than survival. “When you have options, you have freedom,” Secrease said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the moment, the couple figured they had enough food to last them a week. Smith was relieved she’d have that time to focus on applying for jobs and tending to her health. But first they had to chop, freeze, roast and juice their way through the small mountain of produce to keep it from going to waste. After six hours in the kitchen, they had a freezer and refrigerator full of food.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Some relief, but uncertainty remains\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A week into November, Hoover stood in the YMCA residence’s shared kitchen, chopping onion, potato and bell pepper to add to a roasting pan where a whole chicken sizzled in the oven.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I love to cook, it’s one of my favorite things to do,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’d gotten the bird for under $10 at Trader Joe’s; the rest of the meal came from the Berkeley Food Pantry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00103_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ana Hoover checks out her groceries at her local Trader Joe’s in Berkeley on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With the month’s food stamps still in limbo amid federal court challenges and the ongoing government shutdown, she called the state’s EBT helpline, hoping for answers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Your CalFresh balance is $0.61,” a recorded voice said. “You have one future benefit added to the account. CalFresh benefits available on Nov. 10 for $298.00.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Oh, my God, what a lifesaver!” Hoover said. “Oh, my God.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. “The stress level — feeling like, how am I going to do this,” she said. “You have no idea what relief.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064441\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064441\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00125_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ana Hoover, whose SNAP benefits were delayed by the government shutdown, uses her EBT card to pay for her groceries at her local Trader Joe’s in Berkeley on Nov. 13, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Earlier that week, Smith had come home from a three-hour food pantry trip to a letter from the county. Her CalFresh benefits were being denied, the letter explained, because she had not submitted proof of income. She was deflated and frustrated. “I don’t understand. I don’t have any income,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By mid-November, Smith had landed a part-time nanny position, Secrease was working full-time, midnight to 7 a.m., training robots to fold clothes and bus tables, and Hoover was still picking up gigs while applying for jobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Smith was again waiting to hear back about her CalFresh case after submitting new income documents, and Hoover had $58 left in her account — just enough to make a Thanksgiving meal with the free turkey she’d learned a local pantry was offering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251113-SNAPDELAYSFEATURE00089_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ana Hoover shops at her local Trader Joe’s in Berkeley on Nov. 13, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For both women, the last month had deepened their distrust of a system meant to catch them when they fell. “I have always felt that these types of benefits could end anytime,” Hoover said, but that fear no longer feels hypothetical.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republicans have long sought to cut federal funding for food benefits, implement stricter work requirements and shift the burden to states. After Trump signed some of those restrictions into law this year, the shutdown showed what could follow if federal benefits are further curtailed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Smith took some comfort in knowing she found a way forward through sheer tenacity, but the effort had caused her lupus to flare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As she lay in bed, she hoped the food in the freezer would last long enough for her to recover. Then she’d pull up her pantry schedule, pack her tote bags and do it all over again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "where-to-find-free-meals-thanksgiving-2025-bay-area-near-me",
"title": "Where to Find Free Thanksgiving 2025 Meals in the Bay Area",
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"headTitle": "Where to Find Free Thanksgiving 2025 Meals in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The Thanksgiving holiday can be an anxious time for people facing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063723/food-insecurity-on-campus-how-snap-is-a-lifeline-for-many-students\">food insecurity\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this year, the run-up to the holiday season has been even more fraught, as hundreds of thousands of Bay Area residents receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — known as CalFresh in the state — saw their\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\"> payments delayed during the now-ended government shutdown\u003c/a>. Federal employees in the region also went without pay during the shutdown, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">causing demand at Bay Area food banks to soar\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Foodbank\">Jump straight to: Where to find a food bank this Thanksgiving\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While CalFresh benefits have finally been restored, many local families remain food insecure as Thanksgiving approaches. And in response, organizations around the Bay Area are getting ready to provide meals to people who need them this holiday season, from hot food to distribution boxes for use at home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everyone is welcome to come — it doesn’t matter what zip code you live in or what your situation is,” Demone Carter, director of community engagement at Sacred Heart Community Services, told KQED in 2024. This San José-based nonprofit offers a food box distribution each Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11953001\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11953001\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Stacked brown cardboard boxes of cauliflower and sweet potatoes in a paved outdoor area.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boxes of vegetables await distribution at a San Francisco-Marin Food Bank pop-up pantry in the Richmond District of San Francisco on June 13, 2023. Volunteers at food pantries often help set up, build grocery bags, distribute food, check in participants, manage the line, and help with other tasks as needed. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for a list of more places that are offering either hot meals or food boxes to the community this Thanksgiving week — or jump straight to where to find:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to where to find Thanksgiving meals: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#sanfrancisco\">Free Thanksgiving meals in San Francisco\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#eastbay\">Free Thanksgiving meals in the East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#southbay\">Free Thanksgiving meals in the South Bay and Peninsula\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping to volunteer with one of these organizations this Thanksgiving, look for “For volunteers” below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that not all groups listed below will serve their Thanksgiving meals on Thursday, but rather a day or two before. We’ll continue to update the list as we find more information.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Foodbank\">\u003c/a>Looking for a food bank near you instead?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For community members who prefer to take food home on their own schedule, the Bay Area’s food banks and pantries have already begun gearing up to meet community needs for Thanksgiving — after already dealing with several weeks of soaring demand due to the shutdown and SNAP delays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Calls to the Alameda County Community Food Bank’s hotline skyrocketed in November, said Michael Altfest, the organization’s director of community engagement and marketing — with roughly a third of calls coming from people who hadn’t used a food bank before. The shutdown created “an extraordinary situation,” Altfest said, “and we’ve seen in the past that when there is an emergency like this, it typically hits the more vulnerable communities harder, and it takes them longer to recover from it.”[aside postID=news_12062018 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/FoodPantryGetty1.jpg']ACCFB is among the local food banks offering specialty food items as Thanksgiving approaches, based on requests from the community. This year, these items include over 100,000 whole chickens, corn meal, grits, masa, stuffing, fresh cranberries, stock and an increased amount of fresh produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, \u003ca href=\"https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/what-difference-between-food-bank-and-food-pantry\">a food bank like ACCFB is usually where food is stored in a warehouse\u003c/a>, to be delivered to local food programs, which include food pantries. But don’t worry too much about the difference, as food banks specialize in helping connect you to where to actually physically pick up the food itself, and will be clear with you about the best locations near you to do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many food banks have phone hotlines that can assist you in finding food nearby this holiday season. ACCFB’s helpline — 1-510-635-3663, open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. — is available in multiple languages and promises to connect callers “to a source for groceries or a hot meal the same day you call us.” You can also search online using ACCFB’s \u003ca href=\"http://foodnow.net/\">FoodNow.net\u003c/a> tool for food sources near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SF-Marin Food Bank has \u003ca href=\"https://foodlocator.sfmfoodbank.org/?_gl=1*3xmc3d*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NjM2Njk3OTMuQ2p3S0NBaUFsZnZJQmhBNkVpd0FjRXJweVdOclRrU0dQc25ON1FkMTktTF9DcjI1YnI3RFRyeS1YUkIwM3RsY0xmaDZRcUw3RmxMS1V4b0NHMzRRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MTAyODY0MTk3MC4xNzYxNjg5MjU3&_ga=2.164845503.1219262661.1763669793-1779016062.1761689258&_gac=1.229238510.1763669793.CjwKCAiAlfvIBhA6EiwAcErpyWNrTkSGPsnN7Qd19-L_Cr25br7DTry-XRB03tlcLfh6QqL7FlLKUxoCG34QAvD_BwE\">a Food Locator tool \u003c/a>to help you find food assistance in San Francisco and Marin, including monthly food boxes for seniors and one-time emergency food. You can also contact their San Francisco office at 415-824-3663 and their Marin office at 415-824-3663.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José’s Second Harvest has \u003ca href=\"https://www.shfb.org/get-food/?filter_mode=distribution/\">a Find Food online search tool\u003c/a>, and you can call their Food Connection helpline at 1-800-984-3663 (or email foodconnection@shfb.org).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bear in mind that many food banks and their distribution sites may be closed over the Thanksgiving holiday itself. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">Find a food bank near you in the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers:\u003c/em> Sign-ups for Thanksgiving Day itself are always popular, and ACCFB’s volunteer shifts for the holiday are completely booked — although Altfest recommends checking for cancellations if you’re determined. At this stage of the year, “we’re really encouraging people to look to January, February and March for volunteering,” Altfest said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking to support your local food bank with donations, giving money rather than food itself gives these organizations far more flexibility, as they’re able to negotiate special deals for the food they buy in bulk, at much better prices than you can access as a private customer at a store. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062018/how-to-volunteer-donate-food-bank-near-me-thanksgiving-free-meals-san-francisco-bay-area-snap-calfresh-delays-ebt-november-shutdown\">Read more tips on how to support your local food bank this Thanksgiving.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"sanfrancisco\">\u003c/a>Thanksgiving meals in San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, 225 Potrero Ave.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A late \u003ca href=\"https://martindeporres.org/\">morning meal\u003c/a> will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers: \u003c/em>While the organization has enough volunteers to serve the Thanksgiving meal, people are encouraged to bring a homemade pie to their annual Thanksgiving Pie Drop-Off on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>St. Anthony’s Dining Room, 121 Golden Gate Ave.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Celebrating its 75th year in the Tenderloin, \u003ca href=\"https://www.stanthonysf.org/75-years-of-love-and-community-in-the-tenderloin-this-thanksgiving/\">St. Anthony Foundation\u003c/a> plans to serve more than 2,000 Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. this year. Doors will open at 7 a.m. for coffee and pastries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>GLIDE, 330 Ellis St.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following a celebration at Glide Memorial Church, \u003ca href=\"https://www.glide.org/holidays-at-glide/\">Thanksgiving meals\u003c/a> of ham, turkey and all the fixings will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers: \u003c/em>The church is accepting donations of frozen turkeys on Nov. 25 and 26 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>CityTeam, 164 Sixth St.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warm meals will be available for pickup on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, from 8 a.m. to noon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Nov. 26, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cityteamsf/\">Thanksgiving Eve brunch\u003c/a> will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while supplies last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers: \u003c/em>Community members are welcome to bring sides and desserts and help with distribution on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"eastbay\">\u003c/a>Thanksgiving meals in the East Bay\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Oakland Collective, 7800 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DRIBOdcDyBD/\">Free Thanksgiving\u003c/a> staples and turkeys will be available for pickup on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. while supplies last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Expect wait times and lines. First-come, first-served — no advanced registration required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, enter either at 1330 Lakeshore Ave. or 1255 First Ave., Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warm meals, which include turkey, will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, between noon and 1:30 p.m. for the 40th annual meal this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers:\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F45A5A72AA3F49-58766683-2026#/\">Complete a sign-up form online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"southbay\">\u003c/a>Thanksgiving meals on the Peninsula and South Bay\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sacred Heart Community Service, 1381 S. First St., San José\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Food boxes will be distributed on Monday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is required, but you do need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacredheartcs.org/new-member\">sign up to become a member here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Martha’s Kitchen, 749 Story Road, San José\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thanksgiving dine-in meals will be available from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26. Preregistration is \u003ca href=\"https://www.marthas-kitchen.org/ourservices\">available online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Salvation Army, 200 West Fifth St., Gilroy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Residents of the 95020, 95046 and 95037 zip codes can get drive-through food supplies on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 9 a.m. and a hot Thanksgiving lunch at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 26.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers:\u003c/em> The organization expects to feed 250 families, and is \u003ca href=\"https://gilroy.salvationarmy.org/\">accepting donations and volunteers for both days online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Samaritan House Martin Luther King Center, 725 Monte Diablo Ave., San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The whole community is invited to a \u003ca href=\"https://samaritanhousesanmateo.org/\">Thanksgiving Day meal\u003c/a> from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, with all the fixings, music and raffles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Thanksgiving holiday can be an anxious time for people facing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063723/food-insecurity-on-campus-how-snap-is-a-lifeline-for-many-students\">food insecurity\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this year, the run-up to the holiday season has been even more fraught, as hundreds of thousands of Bay Area residents receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — known as CalFresh in the state — saw their\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\"> payments delayed during the now-ended government shutdown\u003c/a>. Federal employees in the region also went without pay during the shutdown, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">causing demand at Bay Area food banks to soar\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Foodbank\">Jump straight to: Where to find a food bank this Thanksgiving\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While CalFresh benefits have finally been restored, many local families remain food insecure as Thanksgiving approaches. And in response, organizations around the Bay Area are getting ready to provide meals to people who need them this holiday season, from hot food to distribution boxes for use at home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everyone is welcome to come — it doesn’t matter what zip code you live in or what your situation is,” Demone Carter, director of community engagement at Sacred Heart Community Services, told KQED in 2024. This San José-based nonprofit offers a food box distribution each Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11953001\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11953001\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Stacked brown cardboard boxes of cauliflower and sweet potatoes in a paved outdoor area.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66299_230613-SFMarinFoodPantry-09-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boxes of vegetables await distribution at a San Francisco-Marin Food Bank pop-up pantry in the Richmond District of San Francisco on June 13, 2023. Volunteers at food pantries often help set up, build grocery bags, distribute food, check in participants, manage the line, and help with other tasks as needed. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for a list of more places that are offering either hot meals or food boxes to the community this Thanksgiving week — or jump straight to where to find:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to where to find Thanksgiving meals: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#sanfrancisco\">Free Thanksgiving meals in San Francisco\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#eastbay\">Free Thanksgiving meals in the East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#southbay\">Free Thanksgiving meals in the South Bay and Peninsula\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping to volunteer with one of these organizations this Thanksgiving, look for “For volunteers” below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that not all groups listed below will serve their Thanksgiving meals on Thursday, but rather a day or two before. We’ll continue to update the list as we find more information.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Foodbank\">\u003c/a>Looking for a food bank near you instead?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For community members who prefer to take food home on their own schedule, the Bay Area’s food banks and pantries have already begun gearing up to meet community needs for Thanksgiving — after already dealing with several weeks of soaring demand due to the shutdown and SNAP delays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Calls to the Alameda County Community Food Bank’s hotline skyrocketed in November, said Michael Altfest, the organization’s director of community engagement and marketing — with roughly a third of calls coming from people who hadn’t used a food bank before. The shutdown created “an extraordinary situation,” Altfest said, “and we’ve seen in the past that when there is an emergency like this, it typically hits the more vulnerable communities harder, and it takes them longer to recover from it.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>ACCFB is among the local food banks offering specialty food items as Thanksgiving approaches, based on requests from the community. This year, these items include over 100,000 whole chickens, corn meal, grits, masa, stuffing, fresh cranberries, stock and an increased amount of fresh produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, \u003ca href=\"https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/what-difference-between-food-bank-and-food-pantry\">a food bank like ACCFB is usually where food is stored in a warehouse\u003c/a>, to be delivered to local food programs, which include food pantries. But don’t worry too much about the difference, as food banks specialize in helping connect you to where to actually physically pick up the food itself, and will be clear with you about the best locations near you to do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many food banks have phone hotlines that can assist you in finding food nearby this holiday season. ACCFB’s helpline — 1-510-635-3663, open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. — is available in multiple languages and promises to connect callers “to a source for groceries or a hot meal the same day you call us.” You can also search online using ACCFB’s \u003ca href=\"http://foodnow.net/\">FoodNow.net\u003c/a> tool for food sources near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SF-Marin Food Bank has \u003ca href=\"https://foodlocator.sfmfoodbank.org/?_gl=1*3xmc3d*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NjM2Njk3OTMuQ2p3S0NBaUFsZnZJQmhBNkVpd0FjRXJweVdOclRrU0dQc25ON1FkMTktTF9DcjI1YnI3RFRyeS1YUkIwM3RsY0xmaDZRcUw3RmxMS1V4b0NHMzRRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MTAyODY0MTk3MC4xNzYxNjg5MjU3&_ga=2.164845503.1219262661.1763669793-1779016062.1761689258&_gac=1.229238510.1763669793.CjwKCAiAlfvIBhA6EiwAcErpyWNrTkSGPsnN7Qd19-L_Cr25br7DTry-XRB03tlcLfh6QqL7FlLKUxoCG34QAvD_BwE\">a Food Locator tool \u003c/a>to help you find food assistance in San Francisco and Marin, including monthly food boxes for seniors and one-time emergency food. You can also contact their San Francisco office at 415-824-3663 and their Marin office at 415-824-3663.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José’s Second Harvest has \u003ca href=\"https://www.shfb.org/get-food/?filter_mode=distribution/\">a Find Food online search tool\u003c/a>, and you can call their Food Connection helpline at 1-800-984-3663 (or email foodconnection@shfb.org).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bear in mind that many food banks and their distribution sites may be closed over the Thanksgiving holiday itself. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061440/calfresh-snap-ebt-shutdown-find-food-banks-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-alameda-oakland-contra-costa-newsom-national-guard\">Find a food bank near you in the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers:\u003c/em> Sign-ups for Thanksgiving Day itself are always popular, and ACCFB’s volunteer shifts for the holiday are completely booked — although Altfest recommends checking for cancellations if you’re determined. At this stage of the year, “we’re really encouraging people to look to January, February and March for volunteering,” Altfest said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking to support your local food bank with donations, giving money rather than food itself gives these organizations far more flexibility, as they’re able to negotiate special deals for the food they buy in bulk, at much better prices than you can access as a private customer at a store. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062018/how-to-volunteer-donate-food-bank-near-me-thanksgiving-free-meals-san-francisco-bay-area-snap-calfresh-delays-ebt-november-shutdown\">Read more tips on how to support your local food bank this Thanksgiving.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"sanfrancisco\">\u003c/a>Thanksgiving meals in San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, 225 Potrero Ave.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A late \u003ca href=\"https://martindeporres.org/\">morning meal\u003c/a> will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers: \u003c/em>While the organization has enough volunteers to serve the Thanksgiving meal, people are encouraged to bring a homemade pie to their annual Thanksgiving Pie Drop-Off on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>St. Anthony’s Dining Room, 121 Golden Gate Ave.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Celebrating its 75th year in the Tenderloin, \u003ca href=\"https://www.stanthonysf.org/75-years-of-love-and-community-in-the-tenderloin-this-thanksgiving/\">St. Anthony Foundation\u003c/a> plans to serve more than 2,000 Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. this year. Doors will open at 7 a.m. for coffee and pastries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>GLIDE, 330 Ellis St.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following a celebration at Glide Memorial Church, \u003ca href=\"https://www.glide.org/holidays-at-glide/\">Thanksgiving meals\u003c/a> of ham, turkey and all the fixings will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers: \u003c/em>The church is accepting donations of frozen turkeys on Nov. 25 and 26 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>CityTeam, 164 Sixth St.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warm meals will be available for pickup on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, from 8 a.m. to noon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Nov. 26, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cityteamsf/\">Thanksgiving Eve brunch\u003c/a> will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while supplies last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers: \u003c/em>Community members are welcome to bring sides and desserts and help with distribution on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"eastbay\">\u003c/a>Thanksgiving meals in the East Bay\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Oakland Collective, 7800 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DRIBOdcDyBD/\">Free Thanksgiving\u003c/a> staples and turkeys will be available for pickup on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. while supplies last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Expect wait times and lines. First-come, first-served — no advanced registration required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, enter either at 1330 Lakeshore Ave. or 1255 First Ave., Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warm meals, which include turkey, will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, between noon and 1:30 p.m. for the 40th annual meal this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers:\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F45A5A72AA3F49-58766683-2026#/\">Complete a sign-up form online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"southbay\">\u003c/a>Thanksgiving meals on the Peninsula and South Bay\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sacred Heart Community Service, 1381 S. First St., San José\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Food boxes will be distributed on Monday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is required, but you do need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacredheartcs.org/new-member\">sign up to become a member here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Martha’s Kitchen, 749 Story Road, San José\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thanksgiving dine-in meals will be available from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26. Preregistration is \u003ca href=\"https://www.marthas-kitchen.org/ourservices\">available online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Salvation Army, 200 West Fifth St., Gilroy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Residents of the 95020, 95046 and 95037 zip codes can get drive-through food supplies on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 9 a.m. and a hot Thanksgiving lunch at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 26.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>For volunteers:\u003c/em> The organization expects to feed 250 families, and is \u003ca href=\"https://gilroy.salvationarmy.org/\">accepting donations and volunteers for both days online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Samaritan House Martin Luther King Center, 725 Monte Diablo Ave., San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The whole community is invited to a \u003ca href=\"https://samaritanhousesanmateo.org/\">Thanksgiving Day meal\u003c/a> from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, with all the fixings, music and raffles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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},
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"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
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"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
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"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
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"order": 1
},
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"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
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"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
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"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
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"subscribe": {
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
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},
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"id": "fresh-air",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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},
"hidden-brain": {
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"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
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"how-i-built-this": {
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"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
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"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
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},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
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"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
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},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
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"source": "WaitWhat"
},
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"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
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},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
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"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
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