San Mateo County steps up to help

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, which is known in California as CalFRESH and gives 42 million people access to food security, lost its original funding source, congressional appropriations, due to the federal government shutdown. 

After a court mandate, the Trump administration will be using emergency funds — which it previously argued it couldn’t touch — to pay out half of SNAP benefits for the month of November, but benefit recalculations and the volatile nature of the situation leaves actual SNAP replenishment dates unclear. 

San Mateo County nonprofits are preparing to meet increased need and recently received $900,000 in funding from the county for food assistance, Samaritan House CEO Laura Bent said. Samaritan House is one of seven key nonprofits in the county that offer basic needs services to residents. 

The organization is increasing both its staffing and its volunteer opportunities to help what Bent said she expects to be a 20% to 30% increase in clients. Samaritan House has already seen a 20% increase in clients this year, before SNAP was cut, with 50 new households applying for assistance last week alone.

She encouraged those currently struggling or who anticipate food insecurity in the near future to come to Samaritan House or other local nonprofits and take advantage of the food and social service resources before depleting their savings or turning to high-interest loans. 

“Use the resources,” she said. “Please come to Samaritan House for the support [you] may need.” 

First-time clients in need of emergency assistance can walk in to Samaritan House — located at 4031 Pacific Blvd., San Mateo — and receive food right away, Bent said. After that, the organization works with individuals and families to set up a plan for services. 

“Some people can’t wait for food. We want to be here,” she said. 

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, another major food distributor on the Peninsula, also has a food finding tool to help those in need of immediate assistance access food. 

San Mateo County has compiled a map of 26 organizations across the county that need volunteers, including Samaritan House and Second Harvest. These organizations also participate in the county’s edible food program, which redistributes excess food to those in need, Sustainability Department Communications Officer Karen Wang said. 

Large-scale businesses — many actually legally required to participate in the program — redistribute food that would be otherwise thrown away in a process facilitated by the county. The county is also asking for volunteers to pick up that food, redistribute it and cook it through various nonprofit organizations. 

“Previously, that food would just go to the landfill or potentially get composted,” Wang said. “The county has set up a program to instead get that food into the tables of people who need it.” 

Aside from donating time to deliver, package and redistribute food as a volunteer, residents can also donate food — and while accepted donations vary from organization to organization, nonperishable items and dry foods are a safe place to start. 

At Samaritan House, donations are accepted at 4031 Pacific Blvd. any time during operating hours. Second Harvest accepts donations at warehouse locations, including 1051 Bing St. in San Carlos. 

Financial donations are also a great option, Bent said, because Samaritan House often receives deals buying food in bulk to which individuals don’t have access. 

Individuals can also run food drives of their own at their schools and businesses, and donate that food to a nonprofit en masse. Kevranian, who is doing just that at his Burlingame storefront, said he’s already gathered 10 full barrels of nonperishables and plans to keep going. 

The experience of seeing the community come together for one another in a time of uniquely dire need has been unexpectedly touching, he said, drawing parallels with his own experience of being supported by the Burlingame community when he immigrated from Beirut. 

“I’m an immigrant. I know how it feels to have difficult times in our lives, and we’re here to support the community,” he said. “It’s very emotional to see the outpouring of love and support. I didn’t expect it to be like this.” 

Anyone interested in hosting a drive with Samaritan House can email donationdrives@samaritanhousesanmateo.org.