San Diego City Wire

In an effort to raise awareness and promote access to healthy, nutritious food, the State of California and County of San Diego are once again celebrating CalFresh Awareness Month throughout May. The initiative aims to educate families about the CalFresh program and provide eligible individuals with the opportunity to benefit from it.

Rick Wanne, director of County Self-Sufficiency Services, highlighted the importance of the program by stating, "Enrollment is at a record high, so we know we have great need in our community right now." This sentiment underscores the significance of ensuring that all eligible individuals take advantage of the resources available to them.

CalFresh, California's federal food assistance program, plays a crucial role in increasing access to fresh and healthy food for residents. The program, a state-level counterpart to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aligns with the County's commitment to promoting healthy, safe, and thriving communities under the Live Well San Diego initiative.

Over the past decade, CalFresh enrollment has seen a significant increase of 68 percent, with 396,964 San Diegans benefiting from the program as of April 1, 2024. This marks a 5.6 percent rise from the previous year, indicating the growing importance of such initiatives in the community.

Individuals interested in determining their eligibility for CalFresh can do so by calling 2-1-1 or applying online at GetCalFresh.org or BenefitsCal. The benefits of the program are distributed through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used at authorized retailers that accept EBT cards.

As various community events are scheduled throughout the month to provide information and assistance to eligible individuals and families, the focus remains on ensuring that everyone who qualifies for CalFresh can access the support they need to lead healthier lives.