Food Benefit Programs Aid Residents and Workers Affected by Recent Wildfires

Sonoma County residents can get help with financial recovery from losses during the Glass Fire and Walbridge/Meyers LNU Complex wildfires by applying for two, time-limited, government programs that provide Disaster CalFresh food benefits to eligible individuals and households.

To apply for either program, visit https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Economic-Assistance/Food-and-Nutrition/CalFresh-Disaster-Benefits/. Anyone who needs food immediately can call 2-1-1 for a list of agencies that can help.

Current CalFresh recipients who lost food purchased with benefits during the Glass Fire, evacuation or power outages have 10 days following the date of loss to request replacement of some of their EBT benefits. For those who do not already have CalFresh benefits, new applications can be expedited for qualified low-income households.

The second program is for residents and workers affected by the Walbridge/Meyers LNU Complex fires. Disaster CalFresh can help supplement the food budget of those who lost food, income or had emergency expenses due to the wildfires. To be eligible, individuals must have lived or worked in Sonoma County on August 14, 2020. Optional pre-registration is available between October 21-27, 2020. Applications also accepted during the open application period between October 28-November 5, 2020.

If an application for either program is approved, benefit funds will be added to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Like a debit card, EBT cards can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers. If approved applicants don’t already have an EBT card, Economic Assistance staff will tell them when and where to pick up their EBT card.

Disaster CalFresh food benefits programs are administered by the Sonoma County Human Services Economic Assistance Division, which oversees the year-round CalFresh program for the State of California. Known as CalFresh in California, this food and nutrition program is part of a federal government program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).