- SNAP was paused due to the government shutdown from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12
- FUHSD, local food banks and restaurants have stepped in to help
- FUHSD held a free meal distribution on Nov. 26 and has started a new breakfast bar program allowing students to come in before school for a free breakfast bar.
Following the Oct. 1 government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program providing food benefits to low-income households, had its funding frozen from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12. This delayed access to monthly food funds for more than 41 million Americans, including approximately 5.5 million Californians. In response, FUHSD and local food banks, pantries and restaurants have stepped in to assist affected families.
“I’ve seen firsthand how quickly community organizations have mobilized — pulling together volunteers, coordinating with schools and preparing hundreds of meals within hours,” Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Tara Sreekrishnan said. “Our responsibility is to ensure no child goes without food, and I’m grateful for the teamwork from organizations, educators and local leaders.”
Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, SNAP — called CalFresh in California — supplies monthly funds into a card that can be used to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, online retailers and participating restaurants. The recent 43-day government shutdown caused the November pause in SNAP benefits. Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed on July 4 reduced SNAP funding by 20% and imposed stricter work requirements to qualify for SNAP benefits. Together, these factors have significantly disrupted food assistance for families.
“The huge amount of money cut from food and other safety net programs, due to House Resolution 1, forced people to make do with less,” FUHSD Board of Trustees member Danny Choi said. “When students don’t have access to food, that directly impacts learning, as studies have shown that students who are malnourished or underfed are unable to perform as well.”
On Oct. 28, California and 22 other states sued President Donald Trump’s administration, alleging that its refusal to sustain SNAP was unlawful. After a federal judge ordered Trump to fully restore funding on Nov. 6, some Californian families saw their benefits return, but it wasn’t until Nov. 12 that a funding bill ended the shutdown. Although state officials worked quickly to restore full SNAP benefits, the impacts of delayed payments were felt throughout the county.
“Although we only have around 400 families on SNAP, the changes are still very impactful,” district nutrition services manager Divya Puri said. “Presently, our nutrition program remains insulated from immediate federal SNAP disruptions due to its primary reliance on state funding. However, the anticipated federal policy changes and cost shifts within SNAP, scheduled to take effect next year, may have an impact on our budget.”
FUHSD initiated meal package pick-ups at Fremont High School for families on the morning of Nov. 26. to help cover meals while school was closed for break. Additionally, a free breakfast program began on Dec. 1, providing grab-and-go breakfast bars before school.
“Since only 11% of our families qualify for free or reduced eligibility, we had about 50 families show up,” Puri said. “We’re going to continue to do our part in initiating district-wide outreach and making sure students are well nourished.”
Local organizations and food banks have also stepped in to help. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which serves one in six people in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, has been leading efforts to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food.
“My supervisor said that they’re a lot more strained for resources ever since SNAP benefits ended, because more people come and they have less to give,” senior and Second Harvest volunteer Naman Maheshwari said. “Volunteering has made me more appreciative of everything I have. At Lynbrook, it’s easy to forget our privilege and lose sight of what other families are going through.”
Other food pantries, such as Community Seva, West Valley Community Services and Tzu Chi have pitched in by distributing fresh meals. Amid the struggle, they have increased staffing and continued stocking up for the holidays.
“After the SNAP pause, one person brought in 20 other volunteers to help out, making things run very smoothly,” junior and Tzu Chi volunteer Natalie Lye said. “There were a lot more people who showed up for food support, many new faces, resulting in us ending 30 minutes later than usual even with all the extra help.”
Additionally, Bay Area restaurants and farmers markets have supported SNAP recipients, offering free or discounted meals. In San José, Tony & Alba’s Pizza and Pasta sparked the initiative by offering free meals to children and discounts for parents. Local farmers markets vendors such as Straus Family Creamery provided a 50% discount on all orders for SNAP customers.
“My wife and I knew no child should go without meals, so we began offering free meals for kids a week and a half before SNAP would be cut,” Tony & Alba’s Pizza and Pasta co-owner Albert Vallorz said. “Everybody needs help and there’s many good people out there. It’s our turn to help others and we’re here to support families.”
Beyond the immediate disruption to SNAP, food insecurity in the U.S. is a growing crisis, with rates rising from 12.8% in 2022 to 13.5% in 2023. Building community resilience can help combat the problem.
“Whether it’s students donating, being involved with local volunteer clubs, or voting at elections to effectively drive long-term change from policies, these little steps add up to a bigger change,” Choi said. “People can also attend public FUHSD board meetings if they would like to voice their concerns or highlight a cause.”
SNAP disruptions have also motivated students to examine their own circumstances and practice gratitude. From working with food drives to service clubs, students are finding ways to create tangible impact across the community.
“As someone who has food security, volunteering has made me more compassionate and empathetic of those without,” Lye said. “I feel proud being able to talk to people and make a difference.”
