Local food banks ramp up support to address food insecurity amid U.S. government shutdown.
By Luis Diaz, Staff Reporter
Before the sun rises, Maria Mejia joins a line that snakes around a South Los Angeles food bank. Unable to work since 2020 due to a heart condition, Mejia arrives at the food bank around 4 a.m., hoping the wait will secure her a single box of food—just enough to stretch her meals for the week.
“It might not be much, it still helps me get by,” said Mejia, who is one of millions of Americans facing uncertainty as the federal government shutdown halts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Benefits were set to expire Nov. 1, but federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to pay for the program using contingency funds. Still, the pause threatens access to food for more than 42 million people nationwide, including students at Cal State Dominguez Hills who depend on the program and on-campus resources like Teddy’s Pantry for support.
Teddy’s Pantry, located in the College of Education building, operates on a point system. Each student receives 15 points per week, which can be used for items such as rice, canned beans and vegetables, frozen meats, and other produce.
“On average, we see anywhere from 1,300 to 1,500 students within the pantry,” said Christopher Battle, associate director of Toro CARE, which supports CSUDH students facing basic needs challenges. “While our department is committed to supporting as many students as possible, the demand continues to outpace our available resources.”
Battle told The Bulletin the Cal State Chancellor’s Office recently expanded access to emergency food resources as part of students’ overall cost of attendance. He added that Toro CARE expects to provide additional support in November through the Toro CARE Grant to help students facing food insecurity.
“That’s why initiatives like Teddy’s Pantry, alongside partnerships with local food banks, are essential,” Battle explained in an Oct. 30 email. “These programs help bridge the gap so students can continue to meet their basic needs even during disruptions like the shutdown.”
The pantry partners with organizations including the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Student LunchBox, and Bracken’s Kitchen to keep its shelves stocked. It also receives support through the Toro CARE budget, philanthropic campaigns, and donations from community members, faculty, and staff.
Ashley Gonzalez, a sophomore biology student who receives about $290 a month in federal food benefits, said the threat of losing that support is “stressful” because the extra money helps sustain her and her family.
“It does help. Without it, we are struggling and doing different stuff to get extra money to afford food for the household,” Gonzalez said.
Krystal Sotelo, a freshman sociology student, said that the potential loss of assistance comes at a difficult time.
“Losing my benefits will have an impact on my family, especially that my parents aren’t working due to injuries,” Sotelo said. “That’s why I use my school resources to have groceries for the week.”
Food costs continue to rise nationwide, according to the Labor Department, with the food-at-home index increasing by 2.7% over the past year. The average family of four in California spends nearly $400 per person each month on groceries—more than $1,500 in total—according to financial services company SoFi.
LA resident Carol Guerrera, a mother of three, shops for groceries twice a week. She told The Bulletin that she spends about two hours each trip shopping for food that fits her budget.
“I always check the price tags carefully because food is expensive and [I’m] struggling financially,” Guerrera lamented. “It’s hard to buy food in this economy.”
With uncertainty still surrounding the timeline for SNAP distributions, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in South LA anticipates a surge in demand. The organization receives donations from farmers, growers, wholesalers, and individuals to distribute to 600 partner agencies.
David May, director of marketing at the Food Bank, said the National Guard is helping prepare food for distribution. “Usually this is done by our volunteers, but with the help of the National Guard it can get done quicker.”
Teddy’s Pantry has also taken steps to ensure the space is stocked and ready to go, said Battle, the Toro CARE associate director.
“We have been talking with our partners at the [LA] Regional Food Bank,” Battle said. “We want to make sure that we’re sticking to the mission of bridging the gap for food access for our students in our community.”