During the federal government shutdown, Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) seeks to connect people with food resources before they may experience delays to food benefits from federally funded programs like CalFresh.
November benefits to CalFresh clients will be delayed due to the government shutdown, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) webpage read this week. Learn more on CDSS’ CalFresh Frequently Asked Questions webpage. CalFresh is California’s name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It provides food benefits to eligible individuals with low incomes.
Meanwhile, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services will continue to remain available and taking new participants during the shutdown. Participant families will still receive benefits on their WIC cards to use for grocery purchases and should keep scheduled WIC appointments.
Currently, the state is expected to fund CalWORKs with no disruption in benefits or administrative support through December. However, a continued federal government shutdown could put future CalWORKs benefits at risk.
For people needing food assistance, food banks and pantries offer help. Dignity Health Connected Living is Shasta County’s designated food bank. It offers people once-a-month scheduled food distributions at multiple sites. To find a nearby food distribution, visit the Connected Living Food Bank website. Click on the “Connected Living FOOD BANK Distribution Schedule” button.
Visitors to scheduled distributions receive the maximum possible food amount, including canned goods, dried beans, cereal, meat, dairy and produce, as available. Visitors to Connected Living’s food bank lobby hours get a smaller, approximately 2-day bag of food by coming between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at 100 Mercy Oaks Dr. in Redding.
Shasta County residents may also get help from these local food resources:
- Dignity Health’s Connected Living Food Bank website. Click on “FOOD BANK Distribution Schedule” or call (530) 226-3071. For program info, call (530) 223-6034.
- 211 Shasta can help connect people to food resources. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211norcal.org/Shasta, scroll down to “Select Your Category” and click on “Food.”
- 2025 Shasta County Key Services flyer, in English and Spanish, provided by 211 Shasta. Lists food distribution sites, contact numbers, meal programs and more.
- Shasta County Food Resources, compiled by Partnership HealthPlan of California. Lists food pantries and programs.
- Local Food Resources by county, on Chico State University’s Center for Healthy Communities’ CalFresh webpage. Offers downloads of Shasta County food site lists, plus English and Spanish lists specifically for older adults.
In addition, HHSA’s Community Health Advocates (CHAs) can provide referrals to community resources for help with health care, food, utility assistance, housing and more. To request assistance, call (530) 225-5285 or email cha@shastacounty.gov. Make an appointment for faster service.
CHAs are available at these HHSA locations:
- Anderson Regional Office, 2889 East Center St., Anderson, (530) 378-1146 or (530) 229-8200, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Enterprise Regional Office 2757 Churn Creek Road, Redding, (530) 224-4894,
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday - Cascade Regional Office 2460 Breslauer Way, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Burney Regional Office 36911 Main St. (Highway 299 E.), Burney, (530) 335-5576, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
For those interested in donating to a food bank, money gifts offer the most efficient help. Call locations to confirm they are accepting donations; site hours and what items are needed.
