Napa County declares local emergency and authorizes up to $500,000 in MSA funds for emergency grocery cards ahead of CalFresh disruption

The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 27 approved a resolution declaring a local emergency and authorizing Health and Human Services to contract with the Napa Valley Community Foundation to distribute emergency grocery store gift cards to CalFresh recipients after county staff warned of a likely federal disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits starting Nov. 1.

Health and Human Services Director Jennifer Yasumoto told the board, "I am here to talk about CalFresh, which is federally known as the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and a benefits disruption that we are, fast anticipating and that is approaching effective November, which is this Saturday, November 1." Yasumoto said Napa County has about 6,600 CalFresh households — roughly 10,700 individuals, or about one in every 12.5 residents — and that local recipients receive about $1,900,000 in benefits monthly.

The resolution authorizes up to $500,000 from the county's Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds for November and December to purchase grocery gift cards to approximate normal EBT purchases and to distribute them through the Napa Valley Community Foundation and local family resource centers and community‑based organizations. Yasumoto said the…