Del Norte supervisors mobilize food‑bank planning as SNAP/CalFresh benefits risk interruption

Supervisor Renell Starkey told the board that county staff and community partners are preparing for a possible interruption in CalFresh (SNAP) benefits that could begin Nov. 1.

"Currently, we have about 4,000 cases that receive SNAP benefits to the tune of $1,200,000 a month," Starkey told the board, and said the county is coordinating with state and federal leaders and bolstering local food‑distribution capacity.

Starkey described steps already under way: Pacific Pantry is expanding capacity; the county will convene an emergency food‑task meeting and is strengthening partnerships with local organizations and the state office to access allocated funds if the interruption occurs. She said county staff and her office plan a meeting with Senator McGuire to coordinate a regional response.

Board members and staff emphasized that the $1.2 million in monthly benefits circulates through local retailers and farms and that reductions could have ripple effects on small businesses. Starkey gave an example: if the 4,000 families each spent $30 at a local farm stall, that would represent about $120,000 in monthly revenue that would be lost to that business alone.

Starkey urged that the county prepare but that the mobilization might not be needed if state or federal action preserves benefits. "It possibly could be for naught. And that is my hope," she said.

No formal board action was required at the meeting; supervisors encouraged continuing coordination with state representatives and community partners.

Ending: County officials said they will return to the board if further decisions — including budget allocations or formal emergency declarations — are needed to support food‑security programs.