San Benito County, CA

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2025

San Benito County commits funding to assist families impacted by the SNAP benefit delays

This week, the San Benito County Board highlighted its commitment to ensure that vulnerable local residents will not go without much-needed food benefits as the federal shutdown impacts communities throughout the nation.

Supervisors agreed to assign $100,000 to provide the Community Food Bank of San Benito County with initial assistance to continue food distribution operations to residents in need.
Supervisors took the steps on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, due to the disruption of funding to CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is a federally funded program that provides critical food assistance to 7,742 recipients and 3,794 households in San Benito County.

Supervisors made it clear they are committed to partnering with the local Food Bank throughout the current crisis to ensure local families do not lose out on these nutritional benefits.
“This County Board has made it very clear: We will not allow children and vulnerable families to go without food in our community,” said San Benito County Board Chair Kollin Kosmicki. “We are committed to working collaboratively with the Food Bank and other partners to ensure we get through this together.”

The $100,000 was an initial allocation from Health and Human Services Agency reserve funds to provide the Food Bank with temporary assistance as the county and local nonprofit organization work together on how to address the situation moving forward.

Also on Tuesday, the Board ratified an emergency declaration issued by the County Administration Officer on Oct. 31. The Board had seven days to ratify the declaration by law. The CAO made the declaration because as of Nov. 1, it was anticipated that CalFresh benefits would be halted ‒ resulting in significant impacts to the health and safety of children, adults, and seniors in the community who rely on this essential food support.

The Board on Tuesday committed to providing financial assistance to the Food Bank despite difficult budget challenges ‒ recognizing the health of our families is an utmost priority ‒ with a goal of recouping funds from the state through the state emergency declaration process.

The Board scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., giving staff time to provide further options moving forward. In the meantime, the county is reaching out to legislative representatives to communicate our county’s commitment to assuring food security for local residents while advocating for reimbursements to cover costs.

San Benito County is committed to working with the Food Bank to ensure these critical services are not halted. The $100,000 allocation is intended to cover at least a week of CalFresh benefits as the county explores its options.

Attachments: 

• Proclamation of a Local Emergency - Federal Cal Fresh Disruption 
• Resolution Ratifying Local Emergency due to Federal CalFresh Disruption

CONTACT:
Dulce Alonso
Principal Administrative Analyst
San Benito County
(831) 636-4000 dalosno@sanbenitocountyca.gov