PHOTOS: Governor Newsom deploys California Volunteers, California National Guard on humanitarian mission assisting food banks as Trump’s government shutdown delays SNAP benefits
What you need to know: As the ongoing government shutdown disrupts critical food benefits, service members from California Volunteers and the California National Guard today began work assisting food banks with preparing meals for families facing food insecurity.
LOS ANGELES – At the direction of Governor Gavin Newsom, California Volunteers and the California National Guard have been deployed under the leadership of the Department of Social Services to assist with preparing meals for distribution to families in need, with their first food distribution service today at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Governor Newsom announced this statewide effort earlier this week and fast-tracked $80 million to food banks throughout the state to help address cuts to food benefits as a result of President Trump’s failure to reopen the federal government.
Today, GO-Serve Director and Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, eight College Corps members, and 32 California National Guard members assisted staff at the LA Regional Food Bank, who requested additional support from the state.
“I’m proud to see the first successful humanitarian deployment of California Volunteers and the California National Guard to food banks to assist and serve communities in need while failures at the federal level permit an ongoing government shutdown. As SNAP delays hit dinner tables right before the holiday season, the state is working hard to keep families from going hungry. The efforts seen today will be ongoing and available to food banks across California that request greater assistance.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
“I’m deeply proud of our California National Guard and California Volunteers for their efforts to keep families fed. This is what true service looks like. They are on the frontlines, showing up for our communities, getting essential food to California families who have been left waiting as the Trump administration turns its back, deepening hunger and hardship across the country. Service to one another is our greatest strength, and California is working to ensure this effort continues across food banks statewide.”
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
“Today, the California Military Department is on the ground supporting food bank operations in Los Angeles,” said Major General Matthew P. Beevers. “We are grateful to play a crucial role in this effort and honored to serve our communities once again. We are supporting our interagency partners at Cal OES, CDSS, and Cal Volunteers, and proud to be part of this incredible team.”
“Today, Governor Newsom deployed the California National Guard and California Service Corps on a humanitarian mission to protect Californian families and kids from going hungry,” said GO-SERVE Director and California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “At a time when DC is shut down, we are stepping up.”
California National Guard Service members sorted and packed produce items today at the LA Regional Food Bank. So far, 25,000 pounds of fresh produce and fruit have been sorted and packaged between guard and civilian volunteers to aid the local community in this time of need.
During this deployment, the California’s National Guard is on a humanitarian mission under the direct command of Governor Newsom. These men and women are working behind the scenes at food bank warehouses, packing boxes, managing deliveries, and moving supplies to keep food flowing to families in need. In most cases, these service members aren’t interacting directly with the public. Their role is purely logistical — helping food banks handle the surge in demand during the federal shutdown.
Service members regularly provide support to state civilian authorities, including for Governor-directed missions to support wildfire preparedness and response, tackle deadly drug trafficking, and surge medical capacity during the global COVID-19 pandemic. When under the Governor’s command, the Guard will not conduct any immigration questions or enforcement.
At Governor Gavin Newsom’s direction in 2020, the California National Guard played a crucial humanitarian role supporting food banks across the state. Guard members helped pack, load, and distribute food when volunteers were unable to safely do so — ultimately helping food banks deliver more than 800 million meals statewide to families in need.
President Trump and Republicans in Congress failed to reopen the federal government by October 23, resulting in 5.5 million recipients of CalFresh experiencing delays to November food benefits. Benefits will continue to be disrupted until the shutdown ends or the federal government takes action to restore fund.
Where Trump is failing Americans, California is stepping up. The efforts announced today will be ongoing and occur at food banks up and down the state where additional assistance is requested.