{"id":5063463,"date":"2025-12-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calatinonews.com\/?p=5063463"},"modified":"2025-12-15T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T01:00:00","slug":"food-banks-become-a-lifeline-as-snap-benefits-remain-uncertain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/caln\/2025\/12\/15\/food-banks-become-a-lifeline-as-snap-benefits-remain-uncertain\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Banks become a lifeline in Long Beach as SNAP benefits remain uncertain\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Non-profit groups in Long Beach continue to provide free food for those in need during this holiday season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian Outreach in Action is a non-profit organization near downtown Long Beach that has been serving the community by providing daily free hot meals, hygiene kits, clothing, food and diaper banks for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople can walk in, anytime, no questions asked, no registration required, we don\u2019t need ID\u2019s,\u201d Debbie Ach, a volunteer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were cut due to the government shut down, food banks became the next source for free food for many. And new requirements for SNAP eligibility make food insecurity real for local families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even after the 43-day government shut down stopped, the longest in United States history, people are still struggling for groceries. Steadily rising grocery prices and the holidays contribute to an influx of people visiting food banks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 42 million people rely on SNAP benefits according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. This highlights the food insecurity most people deal with on a day to day basis.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Community members line up as volunteers at Christian Outreach in Action sort and distribute food during a busy day at the Long Beach food bank. (Mayra Salazar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ach said that what\u2019s special about their food bank is that they have a farmer’s market style food bank where people can choose what they need, whether it be produce, bread, or cans as opposed to just giving people a box of stuff that they might not use for whichever reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also said that there has definitely been an impact as she has seen the lines getting longer in recent weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that the city of Long Beach, the community here is really pulling together, hosting food drives to help the people in need in the neighborhood,\u201d said Ach about the surge in community support recently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople know to donate to us, to volunteer, we need it,\u201d said Ach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carolina Mendez, who was lined up for the food bank said she has three kids, all under the age of 12 who she needs to be able to feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEstoy aqu\u00ed porque mis hijos tienen que comer algo\u201d, she said. \u201cI\u2019m here because my kids need to eat.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Volunteers with Christian Outreach in Action hand out fresh groceries and canned food during a daily distribution at the organization\u2019s Long Beach food bank. (Mayra Salazar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mendez, a homemaker, said her husband is the sole provider so the cost of living, rent and bills take up the majority of the household expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCon lo de la renta y los biles no queda lo necesario para toda la comida que necesitamos”, she said. \u201cWith rent and bills, we don\u2019t have what\u2019s necessary in terms of the food we need.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLo que me dan aqu\u00ed puedo por lo menos hacer una simple comida cuando se nos acaba la marketa\u201d, she added. \u201cWith what I get here I can at least make something simple when we run out of groceries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa Miller from the Help Me Help You non-profit organization also said that lines for their food bank have been getting longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (the amount of people coming by the food bank) already increased by 25% and we\u2019re expecting it to continue to increase,\u201d Miller said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many food banks in the country are struggling as there has been a surge in demand, some have already run out of food due to the benefit cuts and now uncertainty over SNAP eligibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miller says she hopes they don\u2019t run out of food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe people that we get food from say that they\u2019ll be able to increase the food we get and we\u2019re trying to get grants so we can purchase some more as well,\u201d Miller said. \u201cOur mission is to feed, our goal is of course to decrease food insecurity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Long Beach city community continues to support non-profits in their ongoing dedication to make sure people are getting the necessary meals and materials they need especially during this uncertainty filled holiday season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Mayra Salazar is a student at CSULB in her final year, graduating spring 2026. She is majoring in journalism and has a minor in translation studies. She is also a reporter with ENYE<\/a>, the bilingual magazine at Cal State Long Beach. Past news assistant for the Long Beach Current and intern at Insurance Journal. Focuses on news and community reporting.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cover photo: Volunteers at Christian Outreach in Action prepare and distribute food, milk, and prepared meals to community members during a daily food bank service in Long Beach. (Mayra Salazar)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nonprofit food banks in Long Beach are seeing longer lines this holiday season as families struggle with rising grocery prices and changes to SNAP benefits. 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