For the first time, the United Samaritans Foundation ran out of emergency food boxes Tuesday during its regular end-of-the-month distribution.
Executive Director Linda Murphy-Julien believes this is a direct result of federal cutbacks to benefits, with people wanting to stock up in case their benefits are terminated. She’s uncertain as to what will happen Friday, the second day of USF’s twice-monthly food delivery.
“The reality of this is that children, the retired, and the poor are the ones who are going to be hurt,” said Murphy-Julien. “We need to make sure we’re protecting them.”
Federal funds that help millions of Americans put food on the table will begin running out barring a resolution of the government shutdown. This disruption in services would create a hole in the safety net provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries.
Benefits under SNAP would cease starting on Saturday.
Low-income families who qualify for SNAP benefits receive Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards — loaded each month by the federal government — that can be used solely for buying groceries at participating stores and farmers markets. The cards are recharged differently in each state, so not all Americans receive their benefits on the first of the month.
Shanyn Avila, a grant writer and development specialist at USF, said the shutdown could have a domino effect.
“Everybody is experiencing this, and on top of that, every nonprofit in the region is asking for more,” said Avila. “People are flummoxed because we’ve never said ‘no’ before. And we’re not sure what’s going to happen on Friday. We saw a little bit of this last month, but today was really different.”
USF provides emergency food boxes — a program funded by a grant from the city of Turlock — on the last Tuesday and Friday of each month, and recipients can choose one of the two days to collect boxes.
In Hughson, boxes are delivered the fourth Monday and Thursday of each month.
To register to receive a food box, recipients need a picture ID or a Medi-Cal card for each household member, proof of address (utility bill, bank statement) within the last six months, and proof of income (check stub) within the last six months for each household member 18 and older.
In addition to emergency food boxes, USF sends out food trucks to provide free lunches in 12 communities, Monday through Friday, as part of its Daily Bread Mobile Lunch Program. Trucks make 15 stops in Turlock, 15 stops in Keyes and Ceres, 12 stops in Hughson, Empire, Waterford, Hickman and Denair, eight stops in Modesto, and six stops in Patterson, Grayson and Newman. The daily truck schedule can be found by visiting unitedsamaritans.org and clicking on “Find a Meal.”
Christine Huber, director of the county’s Community Services Agency, has tried to take a proactive approach over the past several days.
“We’ve been getting lots of calls to see if this is truly happening,” said Huber. “We’re preparing for Monday — since Nov. 1 falls on a Saturday — to have staff available to answer questions, whether by phone or in person. We’re working to share resources with all of the community members who are affected by this.”
The county has partnered with United Way, which operates 211 of Stanislaus County.
“211 is checking in with all the local food pantries,” said Huber. “They’re keeping their list of all available food options up to date.”
By dialing 2-1-1 from any phone, you can check to see what services are available throughout the county.
USF is hoping the community will step forward with donations to help deal with the uncertainty of the government shutdown.
“Eighteen percent of the people we serve on our trucks are unhoused,” said Avila. “That means 82 percent are from working families. These are people who, after paying rent and their utilities, don’t have money for food. They’re looking at their kids and thinking, ‘How and I’m going to make this happen?’”
Those wishing to donate can visit unitedsamaritans.org and click on “Donate," or by calling 209-668-4853.
“Losing hope is a cancer of the soul,” said Murphy-Julien. “As long as we don’t lose hope, we’ll get through this.”
