How faith communities can respond as the SNAP funding failure threatens 107,000 Contra Costa neighbors
In this post:
- Background
- The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
- Monument Crisis Center
- White Pony Express
- Universal Values from Various Faith Traditions
The ongoing federal government shutdown has led to a critical food security crisis in Contra Costa County, resulting from the failure to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known locally as CalFresh. The November CalFresh/SNAP benefits have been delayed, and it is uncertain when they will restart.
A common thread woven through most major faith traditions is the sacred obligation to feed the hungry and secure food for all people, seeing it as a direct act of service to the Divine and a fundamental expression of human compassion and justice.
This delay immediately threatens the food security of 107,000 Contra Costa County residents, over half of whom (55%) are children and seniors. A pause in these crucial benefits forces the most vulnerable among our neighbors to make difficult trade-offs between essential needs, like rent and food.
Regardless of how we have arrived at this crisis, or how it might ultimately be resolved, plunging this many people into an immediate food crisis is a powerful call for faith-rooted compassion and action. It is a call to respond together according to our shared faith values.
Contra Costa has several prominent agencies working to address food security: the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, the Monument Crisis Center, and White Pony Express. All need significant food and financial donations to maintain their services in the face of dramatically increasing demand. Here are ways you can support both of them.
Support Opportunity: Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is prepared to support the community through this uncertain time. Every $1 donated provides enough food for two meals.
The Food Bank has multiple ways to accept food donations.
- Virtual food drives – read more here
- Food drives in your congregation – read more here
- Food donations from community members – see below
Food Donation Drop-Off (Contra Costa County):
The Food Bank has food bins around the county. Click here to download a list.
Community members can also drop off smaller quantities of nonperishable food at the Concord warehouse:
- Location: 4010 Nelson Ave, Concord, CA 94520.
- Warehouse Hours for Donations:
- Monday: 8:00 am – 3:30 pm.
- Tuesday–Thursday: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm.
- Friday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.
- Saturday: 8:00 am – 3:30 pm.
Most Needed Items: The Food Bank recommends donating healthy, nonperishable food you would like to eat. Key items include:
- Nut butters (peanut, almond), jam/jelly/honey.
- Canned tuna and chicken (in water).
- Boxed macaroni and cheese.
- Shelf-stable milk.
- Beans/lentils (dry or canned) and rice.
- Canned soups/vegetables/tomato products (low sodium, easy open).
- Whole grain cereals/crackers and whole wheat/grain pasta.
There are also many Food Bank-supported “pantries” operated by faith communities and others, which are important distribution points for food. These pantries may also accept donations and volunteers. Click here for more information.
Please note: The Food Bank cannot accept glass containers, food past its ‘best by’ date, open/partially-used products, alcohol, or frozen/refrigerated foods.
You can also support the Food Bank financially or by volunteering. Click the following links for further information:
Support Opportunity: Monument Crisis Center
Monument Crisis Center (MCC) anticipates a surge in demand as families who depend on CalFresh turn to charities for emergency assistance. The center is actively expanding its food storage capacity to meet this need. There are also several seasonal food donation programs underway. Please see the flyers linked below.
General Food Donation Drop-Off:
- Location: 1990 Market Street, Concord, CA 94520.
- Donation Drop-Off Times: Monday – Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM.
Most Needed Items for Client Families:
MCC needs these items to fill every bag of groceries.
- Cereal, tuna, peanut butter, and canned meals.
- Other needed canned or boxed pantry items include vegetables, fruits, mac & cheese, pasta, soups, oatmeal, beans, and rice.
Items for Homeless Snack Bags: MCC also accepts donations specifically for snack bags for homeless individuals.
- Granola bars, cheese crackers, fruit snacks, protein bars, beef jerky, Slim Jims or Spam, canned tuna, dried fruit, pudding cups or juice, small bottled water, and plastic spoons or forks.
Printable Flyers with Foods Needed Lists
The following flyers can be downloaded, printed, or emailed to members of your congregation.
- Ready-to-Eat snack bags for the homeless
- Most Needed Items
- Thanksgiving Food Drive 2025
- Holiday Food Box Program 2025
- All Monument Crisis Center progams
Financial Donations: If you don’t have time to shop, you can support MCC by texting MCC to 41-444, mailing a check to P.O. Box 23973 Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523, or visiting the link below.
You can also support the Monument Crisis Center financially or by volunteering. Click the following links for further information:/
Support Opportunity: White Pony Express
WPE is launching its year-end campaign — Food in Motion, Love in Action — to meet the surge in need and sustain WPE operations through the coming months. Every volunteer shift, every dollar, every donated food item directly supports their mission to serve with compassion and efficiency.
Fill the hunger gap
WPE Countywide Food Drive
October 28 – November 30
Drop Off Location: 2470 Bates Avenue, Suite D, Concord
MON-FRI 8 am – 3 pm | SAT-SUN 8 am – 2 pm
The White Pony Express is organizing a county-wide food drive to support neighbors affected by the suspension of CalFresh (food stamp) benefits, which began on November 1.
You can help ensure access to nutritious groceries for the thousands of households that have been left without benefits. A rapid community response will provide food security to our under-resourced neighbors.
Requested Items:
- Nut butters (peanut, almond)
- Canned meats
- Shelf-stable milk
- Beans/lentils (dry or canned)
- Canned soups and chili
Printable Flyer
The following flyer can be downloaded, printed, or emailed to members of your congregation.
You can also support the White Pony Express financially or by volunteering. Click the following links for further information:
Universal Values and Support from Tradition
Taking ACTION to provide relief from hunger is a universal priority of faith. Here are the ways different traditions express this commitment.
| Faith Tradition | Core Value on Hunger Relief | Brief Scripture Support |
| Islam | Zakat (Charity) & Compassion (Rahmah) | “And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive…” (The Holy Qur’an, 76:8). |
| Judaism | Tzedakah (Justice/Righteousness) & Mitzvah (Commandment) | “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges… you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger.” (Leviticus 23:22). |
| Christianity | Agape (Selfless Love) & Service | “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…” (Matthew 25:35). |
| Buddhism | Karuna (Compassion) & Metta (Loving-Kindness) | “Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.” (Sutta Nipata 149-150). |
| Hinduism | Dāna (Charity) & Dayā (Compassion) | “The riches of the liberal never waste away, while he who will not give finds none to comfort him.” (Rigveda, X. 117). |
| Sikhism | Sewa (Selfless Service) & Langar (Free Kitchen) | “The most meritorious deed is to donate food and satisfy the appetite.” (Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 268). |
| Jainism | Ahimsa (Non-Violence) & Abhayadāna (Protection of Life) | The five transgressions of Ahimsa include “neglecting to feed them properly.” (Ācārānga-sūtra, on the vow of non-harm). |
