SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As the government shutdown continues into its third week, the San Diego Food Bank is stepping up efforts to support federal workers who are not receiving paychecks.
Thousands of federal employees in San Diego are facing financial uncertainty as they go without pay, prompting local nonprofits like the San Diego Food Bank to fill the gaps left by the shutdown.
“This is about making sure people have what they need during this time,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank.
Adding to the challenges, there is a looming threat of losing millions of dollars in CalFresh food stamp benefits starting Nov. 1, which are funded by federal tax dollars.
“These federal workers, they are not necessarily in high-paying jobs; they’re like most Americans, and most Americans, over 60 percent of them, are living paycheck to paycheck, so they’re just one paycheck away from really being pushed over that edge and needing to utilize food banks,” Castillo said.
The Jacobs and Cushman Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in San Diego County, is prepared to use its rainy-day fund if necessary to continue operations.
“We’re going to spend half a million dollars in purchasing food and serving these folks if this persists,” Castillo said.
Jewish Family Services has set up pop-up food banks specifically for federal workers, with a dozen locations across San Diego.
Amid uncertainty about federal funding, local organizations are working tirelessly to ensure that those affected by the shutdown have access to essential resources.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.
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