The recent suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits has left millions of Americans concerned about their food security. Among those impacted are approximately 5.5 million Californians who depend on CalFresh, California’s version of SNAP. In response, the Concord-based nonprofit White Pony Express (WPE) has initiated a significant countywide food drive intended to alleviate the consequences of this federal decision. The drive will run until November 30, 2023 and calls upon local residents, businesses, schools, and faith groups to contribute shelf-stable food and financial donations.
Eve Birge, chief executive officer of WPE, expressed her shock at the federal government’s announcement, stating, “You don’t leave families without a lifeline and hope this calamity sorts itself out.” Her organization swiftly transitioned into emergency response mode, identifying public pantries that would face increased demand and mobilizing additional resources to assist them. “We added rapid-response pick-ups and distributions and stood up a countywide food drive focused on shelf-stable items and funds,” Birge explained.
On November 3, 2023, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis visited WPE’s headquarters to show support and meet with members of the Food Security Collaborative of Contra Costa County. This collaborative includes WPE, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Meals on Wheels, and other local organizations. Kounalakis criticized the federal government’s decision, asserting, “It’s an unacceptable and un-American act that uses our most vulnerable families as political pawns.” She commended WPE for its proactive leadership during this crisis.
To address the urgent need for food assistance, WPE is focused on collecting essential items such as shelf-stable proteins, rice, pasta, oats, low-sodium soups, and canned vegetables. Monetary donations are also encouraged to enable quick procurement of food supplies. Birge emphasized, “Every dollar helps WPE secure and deliver nutritious food.”
The demand for assistance in Contra Costa County has surged, with many families facing difficult choices between rent, gas, medicine, and food. Birge noted, “We’re also seeing first-time visitors who never imagined needing help,” particularly among federal workers affected by the SNAP suspension. The organization’s response to this crisis is unprecedented in scale, as it coordinates a multichannel effort to stabilize households.
While community support has been robust, with local businesses and individuals organizing food drives and collections, the need continues to grow. Birge detailed the inspiring response from the community, stating, “Workplaces have been organizing drives overnight, teens running block-by-block collections, donors stepping up with first-time gifts and a surge of new volunteers.” Despite this, she reiterated the necessity for more support to match the expanding scale of need.
Birge stressed that hunger impacts everyone, not just those directly affected by the SNAP freeze. “When a child learns on an empty stomach, learning suffers; when workers skip meals, health and productivity decline,” she said. She highlighted the importance of community partnerships in ensuring food reaches those who need it most, as WPE collaborates with schools, shelters, clinics, and faith-based organizations to identify and support families in need.
As legal challenges regarding the SNAP suspension unfold, Birge affirmed that organizations like WPE will continue their essential work. “While courts and policymakers work, our job is to feed people — now,” she said. She urged community members to consider their role in helping alleviate hunger, stating, “If you’re fortunate enough not to feel it today, you have extraordinary power to lessen it for someone else — quickly.”
In a final message, Birge emphasized the logistics of food distribution rather than scarcity. “Food is abundant, and hunger is a logistics problem,” she stated. “White Pony Express exists to solve that problem with compassion and precision. Together, we can make sure no neighbor goes to bed hungry.”
