CalOptima Health has approved $8 million in emergency aid to help address food insecurity among Orange County residents after delays in CalFresh benefits put assistance for 310,000 people at risk.
The action follows an announcement last week from the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) that CalFresh payments would be delayed in November due to the federal shutdown. CalFresh, the state version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides low-income residents with monthly support to buy food. The timing of November benefits has remained uncertain, though a federal court ruled on November 6 that SNAP funds should be released within a day.
With 94,000 seniors and 91,000 children among Orange County’s CalFresh recipients — and an estimated 225,000 of them enrolled in CalOptima Health — the agency moved to release funding aimed at preventing food insecurity and malnutrition.
The Board approved up to $1.5 million each for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Community Action Partnership Orange County (CAP OC). Together, the two nonprofits distribute 65 million pounds of food annually through a countywide network that includes food banks, senior centers, soup kitchens, shelters and transitional housing facilities.
“We are so very grateful to CalOptima Health for their support of the emergency food system supported by Orange County’s two food banks,” said Claudia Bonilla Keller, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “The food banks support close to 500 pantries in the communities where people live and work. This funding will ensure that these sites have additional, nutritious food on hand during this benefits stoppage.”
Added Gregory C. Scott, President and CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County: “This support from CalOptima Health will make a real difference for Orange County families and older adults who are feeling the impact of delayed CalFresh benefits during the federal shutdown. When these essential programs are disrupted, it takes strong community partnerships to fill the gap. This investment directly supports our mission to end poverty by providing immediate food relief, and together we’re ensuring that no one in our county goes hungry.”
The Board also approved $5 million to issue $25 grocery flex cards to CalOptima Health members who are enrolled in CalFresh. CalOptima Health will work with SSA to identify eligible members and notify them through multiple communication channels about the emergency assistance.
“CalOptima Health is acting to prevent these extraordinary events on the national level from negatively impacting the physical health of individuals in our communities,” said Michael Hunn, CEO of CalOptima Health. “We firmly believe that food is health.”
