TSA employees pick up food delivered by ACCFB in the breakroom of the Oakland Airport on October 16, 2025.

TSA employees pick up food delivered by ACCFB in the breakroom of the Oakland Airport on October 16, 2025.

Updated on November 3, 2025. 

On November 1, nearly 180,000 community members in Alameda County did not receive their SNAP benefits that they rely on to buy groceries. While the federal administration has said they will pay partial benefits, it is uncertain how much or when.

Importantly, 15,000-20,000 people in Alameda County will also lose their SNAP benefits permanently due to federal cuts in HR1 starting on November 1. This past week, calls to our Emergency Food Helpline increased by nearly 200% compared to the weeks before.

As the government shutdown continues, federal workers are continuing to miss paychecks.

Just as we were in 2018 during the previous shutdown, and in 2020 during the pandemic, ACCFB stands ready to ensure that everyone in the county has access to the food they need. Together with our partners, we are:

  • Providing food to federal workers going without pay: The Food Bank has set up emergency distributions across Alameda County for federal workers. This includes weekly distributions of fresh produce, eggs, coffee, and pantry staples like milk, canned protein, pasta, beans, rice, and more to TSA employees at the Oakland airport.
  • Significantly increasing food purchases so we can distribute more food: In October, we increased procurement by nearly 75% and we anticipate doubling this in November. Thousands of families are going without the SNAP dollars they depend on since the federal government cut off funding on November 1. Given recent news, there are still many uncertainties here. Additionally, permanent cuts to SNAP through HR1 have begun to take effect. With the support of the community, we’re ensuring we have the resources to fill that gap.
  • Increasing Emergency Helpline operations capacity: The Food Bank has increased Emergency Helpline operations capacity so we can quickly connect people to resources.

  • Launching pop-up pantries: The Food Bank is working with Alameda County’s Social Services Agency (SSA) to provide more access and reduce strain on partner agencies through pop-ups.

  • Ramping up home-delivered groceries program: Due to requests from community members, the Food Bank is working to bolster this program to reach more people with the right food, at the right time and place.

Need food today? Visit foodnow.net for assistance.

If you have the funds, please make a donation to help ensure that all of us in Alameda County can access the food we need during the government shutdown and beyond. You can also start a Virtual Food Drive to raise money with your friends, family, and community.

We need volunteers to help sort and pack food for distributions. Sign up for a shift at our warehouse or at a site in your community. 

Read and watch to learn more: