The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors declared this Tuesday in May as CalFresh Awareness Month to highlight the need for eligible residents to sign up for monthly food assistance.
"No one in San Mateo County should face the threat of starvation," said Supervisor Warren Slocum. “CalFresh is a tremendous program that we don't talk about enough. CalFresh truly provides a lifeline for individuals and families affected by inflation, high housing costs, and many other bills."
CalFresh is California's version of the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. The program provides monthly food assistance to qualified San Mateo County residents at risk of hunger.
As of March 2023, a total of 30,960 San Mateo County residents are signed up for CalFresh. That's an increase of more than 8,000 recipients since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, according to the County Human Services Agency.
"Access to healthy and nutritious food is critical to the well-being of our community," said Navjeet Singh, Director of Economic Self-Sufficiency at the Human Services Agency. "We are committed to doing our part to make sure everyone who is eligible for CalFresh benefits receives it."
The county and its partners are scheduling a series of events through May to provide residents with information about CalFresh and how to determine the eligibility, which is based on income.
Benefits are provided in a Electronic Benefits Transfer Card - EBT?, which works like a debit card.
Those with questions about the program can call the Human Services Agency Service Center, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-800-223-8383.
And to know how to request Calfresh click here.
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