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Tag: food benefits

  • Roseville small businesses step up to help those losing food benefits during government shutdown

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    ON WHAT PEOPLE IN ROSEVILLE ARE DOING TO MEET THAT NEED. AS A PERSON LIVING WITH CELIAC DISEASE. STEPHANIE HOUSTON’S QUEST FOR GLUTEN FREE FOOD TURNED INTO A BUSINESS. I COULD BAKE. I’M PRETTY GOOD AT BAKING. I COULD DO THAT. AND AS A MEMBER OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN ROSEVILLE, SHE FINDS A WAY TO HELP OTHERS DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. THE FOOD BANKS DON’T REALLY HAVE MUCH RIGHT NOW, AND THAT’S WHAT I’M HEARING, IS THAT THERE ISN’T AN OPTION FOR GLUTEN FREE. SO WE FIGURED I CAN SCALE UP, I CAN MAKE MORE BREAD, I SELL BREAD EVERY WEEK AT JUST GLUTEN FREE KITCHENS. NOW, GIVING AWAY A LOAF OF BREAD TO FOLKS WHO DEPEND ON CALFRESH. IT’S JUST NOT RIGHT. THAT’S ALL. AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR. WE’RE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. ARE YOU READY FOR A BURRITO? VOLUNTEERS ARE SERVING UP FREE WARM MEALS. HI THERE AT SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL DINING ROOM, WE SEE THE IMPACT EVERY DAY. THE NEED FOR HELP IN ROSEVILLE WAS ALREADY CLEAR. HELP YOURSELF TO A PIECE OF PIE. EVEN BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PUT FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS LIKE CALFRESH ON PAUSE. IT SADDENS ME. AND I YOU KNOW, WE DO WHAT WE CAN HERE IN OTHER PLACES THROUGH FOOD VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TO DO WHAT WE CAN. TERRY GARRISON, ALSO SERVING UP LOVE AND A PRAYER TO GET FOLKS THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD. IF EVERYBODY STEPPED UP AND DID JUST A LITTLE BIT, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY. THANK YOU. IN ROSEVILLE MICHELLE BANDUR KCRA THREE NEWS. OTHER ROSEVILLE BUSINESSES ARE ALSO OFFERING HELP. HIDDEN COFFEE IS GIVING AWAY FREE COFFE

    Roseville small businesses step up to help those losing federal food benefits during government shutdown

    Updated: 7:16 PM PST Nov 5, 2025

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    The government shutdown is affecting many in Roseville, prompting local businesses and volunteers to provide food and support to those impacted by halted federal benefits.Feeding the Foothills, a food bank serving over 50,000 people in Placer, El Dorado, and Nevada counties, is witnessing an increased demand for assistance as federal programs, such as CalFresh, are paused. On a rainy Wednesday, St. Vincent de Paul’s dining room offered free warm meals to those in need. “We have bean and meat burritos with beans on the side, coleslaw, and pie today,” said Terry Garrison. She volunteers to serve the food and noted the gratitude of those receiving meals. “These people are so gracious and so thankful,” Garrison said.Even before the shutdown, the need for help in Roseville was evident. “We see the impact every day,” Garrison said. “It saddens me. We do what we can here in other places through food volunteer programs, to do what we can.”Inspired by other local businesses, Stephanie Houston of Just Gluten Free Kitchens decided to contribute by baking. “I could bake. I’m pretty good at baking. I can do that,” Houston said. She doubled her bread recipes to provide gluten-free options, which are scarce at food banks. “The food banks don’t really have much right now. What I’m hearing is that there isn’t an option for gluten-free. So we figured I can scale up, I can make more bread. I sell bread every week,” she said. Houston is now giving away loaves of bread to those dependent on CalFresh.”It’s just not right, that’s all. And that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve the community,” she said.Back at lunch, Garrison continued to serve meals with love and prayers, believing that collective small efforts can make a significant impact. “If everybody stepped up and did just a little bit, it would go a long way,” she said.More businesses are joining the effort, including Hidden Coffee, which offers free coffee and pastries to those on CalFresh. Free lunches are available five days a week, and Feeding the Foothills has multiple food distribution sites across the three counties of Placer, El Dorado and Nevada.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    ROSEVILLE, Calif. —

    The government shutdown is affecting many in Roseville, prompting local businesses and volunteers to provide food and support to those impacted by halted federal benefits.

    Feeding the Foothills, a food bank serving over 50,000 people in Placer, El Dorado, and Nevada counties, is witnessing an increased demand for assistance as federal programs, such as CalFresh, are paused.

    On a rainy Wednesday, St. Vincent de Paul’s dining room offered free warm meals to those in need.

    “We have bean and meat burritos with beans on the side, coleslaw, and pie today,” said Terry Garrison. She volunteers to serve the food and noted the gratitude of those receiving meals.

    “These people are so gracious and so thankful,” Garrison said.

    Even before the shutdown, the need for help in Roseville was evident.

    “We see the impact every day,” Garrison said. “It saddens me. We do what we can here in other places through food volunteer programs, to do what we can.”

    Inspired by other local businesses, Stephanie Houston of Just Gluten Free Kitchens decided to contribute by baking.

    “I could bake. I’m pretty good at baking. I can do that,” Houston said.

    She doubled her bread recipes to provide gluten-free options, which are scarce at food banks.

    “The food banks don’t really have much right now. What I’m hearing is that there isn’t an option for gluten-free. So we figured I can scale up, I can make more bread. I sell bread every week,” she said.

    Houston is now giving away loaves of bread to those dependent on CalFresh.

    “It’s just not right, that’s all. And that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve the community,” she said.

    Back at lunch, Garrison continued to serve meals with love and prayers, believing that collective small efforts can make a significant impact.

    “If everybody stepped up and did just a little bit, it would go a long way,” she said.

    More businesses are joining the effort, including Hidden Coffee, which offers free coffee and pastries to those on CalFresh. Free lunches are available five days a week, and Feeding the Foothills has multiple food distribution sites across the three counties of Placer, El Dorado and Nevada.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • ‘Really ironic’: Nonprofit that trains people for food service careers feeds its students amid SNAP freeze

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    DENVER — In a bustling kitchen at Work Options, Denverites chop vegetables, prepare meals, and load trays headed for the city’s micro-communities — small housing sites for people experiencing homelessness. But for the 25 students currently enrolled in the nonprofit’s year-round culinary training program, the meals they prepare for others stand in stark contrast to what they can prepare for themselves.

    “It’s a really ironic thing that we are providing meals for our folks who are experiencing homelessness,” said Brittany Jones, Work Options’ program and recruitment manager. “But our students… when they leave this place, they have to figure out what they’re going to eat after they leave our program.”

    While Work Options provides its adult students with lunch and breakfast during the week, Jones said 100% of students in the program either receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or have applied for them. Those benefits, which help students buy groceries when they’re not eating at Work Options, are currently frozen amid the federal government shutdown.

    “A lot of folks already come to us in crisis mode with needs such as mental health, justice involvement, or just wanting to find work so they can provide meals for their families. Now, it just adds an additional toll,” said Jones.

    • What is SNAP? Denver7 breaks down the federal aid program

    What is SNAP? Denver7 breaks down federal aid program

    Student apprentice Kay Krue, 26, knows that feeling firsthand. She came to Work Options after struggling to find a job, impressed by the program’s focus on connecting students with employers in hospitality.

    The nonprofit liked her work so much that they hired her on as an apprentice, a paid six-month extension.

    Krue said her SNAP application was never finalized before the freeze.

    “I’m here cooking food all day… but I don’t have much at home right now — just rice, dressings, and stuff,” she said. “It’s really disappointing and kind of devastating. During the month of Thanksgiving is the absolute worst time to take food away from people that genuinely need it.”

    This week, Work Options announced that donors, including the Daniels Fund and the Schlessman Foundation, are stepping into the gap. Each student will receive $290 in grocery gift cards — the average monthly SNAP benefit for an individual household in the program — to carry them until the shutdown is resolved.

    “So we’re actually stepping into the gap and saying, ‘Hey, even though the government isn’t providing you with your benefits right now, this is what we can provide until this shutdown is mitigated,’” Jones said.

    Krue calls the help “everything.”

    “I was genuinely, really, really happy when I heard that,” she said. “Not just for me, but for all of the people in the program who I know firsthand could really, really use the help and the food.”

    For everyone involved, the help is about more than meals; it’s ensuring students can keep their focus on the skills that will lead to a better life.

    “We can’t focus on finding sustainable employment if we have to deal with what you’re going to eat the next day,” Jones said.

    If you would like to donate to support Work Options, click here.

    Coloradans in need of food assistance can check out the following resources:

    The governor’s office suggested Coloradans call 211 or (866) 760-5489 or visit the 211 Colorado website. There is also a list of resources through the Feeding Colorado website, or by email: info@feedingcolorado.org.

    Those looking for the most up-to-date information should click here.

    • Denver7 Gives has created a campaign to help Coloradans struggling with food insecurity. Click on the form below and select “Help Fight Food Insecurity“ to donate.

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    Jaclyn Allen

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  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Says No Food Aid Benefits Will be Issued Next Month

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    The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country’s biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

    The shutdown is now in its 25th day, with Republicans and Democrats in Congress remaining at an impasse over how to fund and reopen the federal government.

    “Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a post on its website. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”

    More than 41 million depend on the monthly payments, according to the USDA. In some states, like New Mexico, dependence on the program is as high as 21 percent of residents, it said.

    The agency’s announcement came after more than 200 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday called on USDA to draw on its emergency reserves to fund November food benefits.

    However, according to a memo seen by Reuters, the department indicated that it would not do so.

    Governors in Louisiana and Virginia declared states of emergencies this week to make funds available to help with hunger relief in anticipation of SNAP benefits not being issued next month.

    Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Sonali Paul

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    Reuters

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