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 Community Foundation has agreed to provide a $150,000 match and to cover administrative costs for distribution. "This investment allows the board to continue that alignment and further our progress on our community health improvement plan," she said.

County staff described the gift cards as aimed at approximating EBT transactions: they will be purchased from stores that accept EBT, distributed at sites clients already use, and, where possible, hardwired to restrict purchases to food. Yasumoto said eligibility workers will be stationed at distribution sites to assist verification. "We intend to work very closely with our community partners, with community foundation, with family resource centers who will be part of that, to engage in a mass distribution, but one that has integrity and controls in place," she said.

Representatives from local nonprofits and food distributors urged adoption and offered operational capacity. Doreen Johnson, executive director of Community Action Napa Valley and the county food bank, said, "Community Action and the food bank is gonna be able to handle this problem. This is not new to us." Alicia Abdo, executive director of On the Move, said her organization and five family resource centers have existing verification and distribution systems that can be adapted immediately. Daniel Harter, board chair of Feeding It Forward, urged larger funding, saying, "A $1,000,000 investment would not only meet the immediate needs, but also demonstrate your commitment to protecting the well‑being and dignity of all citizens of Napa Valley who find themselves in need during uncertain and frightening times." Mark Van Gorder of Feeding It Forward described the group's perishable‑food logistics and noted the organization distributed roughly 102,000 meal equivalents so far this year.

Supervisors asked about current caseload trends and whether local expenditures could be reimbursed when federal funding resumes. Yasumoto said local CalFresh applications had been relatively stable in 2025 and that, because the EBT system is federal, there is no mechanism to inject county funds into the federal issuance process; if federal funds are later restored and recipients are made whole, those payments would go to recipients, not back to the county. Supervisor Alessio asked whether federal employee pay disruptions might further increase demand.

Supervisor Ramos raised a policy concern about using the term "backfill," noting county budget policy generally seeks not to backfill reductions in state and federal funds with discretionary dollars. Ramos proposed deleting the recitals that used the word and instead adopting explicit local emergency language. County counsel drafted language during the meeting; the clerk read changes that added a declaration that a local emergency threatens the safety of county residents and removed the wording characterizing the action as a backfill. The board approved Ramos's motion (seconded by Supervisor Alessio) unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar item 5A (approval of emergency public works action to repair airport runway lighting): motion by Supervisor Gallagher, second by Supervisor Ramos; approved unanimously. - Resolution authorizing HHSA director to contract with Napa Valley Community Foundation for emergency grocery gift card distributions; declaring a local emergency; delegating related authority to the CEO; authorizing use of up to $500,000 in MSA funds for Nov.–Dec.: motion by Supervisor Ramos, second by Supervisor Alessio; approved unanimously.

The board asked staff to provide an update in late November on how the distribution is proceeding and to coordinate outreach to cities and philanthropic partners to stretch county funds and reduce duplication. The meeting adjourned to the Nov. 18 regular meeting at 9 a.m.