At The Crossroads Launches Emergency Food Drive as Government Shutdown Threatens SNAP Benefits for nearly 83,000 San Francisco Residents

As the federal government shutdown threatens to disrupt SNAP benefits for nearly 83,000 San Francisco residents, At The Crossroads (ATC) is launching an emergency community food drive to ensure the organization’s pantries remain stocked for the city’s most vulnerable young adults.

Multiple states, including California, have warned that families relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—known as CalFresh in California—may miss benefits starting in November if the shutdown continues past October 27. The timing could not be worse: the potential cuts would hit just as families prepare for the holidays, forcing already struggling individuals to make impossible choices between food, rent, and other basic needs.

“Nearly 100% of our clients are enrolled in CalFresh, and they represent some of San Francisco’s most systemically marginalized young people,” said Merissa Hernandez, Program Supervisor at At The Crossroads. “When people lose any benefit, especially their monthly CalFresh allotment, they have to stretch already limited funds even further. People are forced to make difficult decisions between paying rent or having food on the table. At The Crossroads’ client population tends to be born into under-resourced communities with intergenerational trauma and face structural inequities beyond their control. Yet, they work incredibly hard to overcome hardships and find stability, making CalFresh a critical lifeline each month.”

At The Crossroads serves more than 175 unhoused young adults annually, providing essential needs, relational stability, and practical support to help them navigate a system full of barriers. The organization operates a food pantry that clients depend on regularly—services that are becoming increasingly strained as local food bank supplies dwindle and food costs continue to rise due to inflation.

The Emergency Food Drive runs now through the end of November and seeks donations of canned meals, meats, and hearty soups as well as shelf-stable foods like pasta, ramen, mac n cheese, and stuffing.

How You Can Can Help:

• Donate food: Purchase food directly from our Amazon Wishlist OR Drop off shelf-stable items at At The Crossroads, 167 Jessie Street, San Francisco
• Host a collection: Set up a donation bin at your workplace, school, place of worship, school, or community space, contact Jaeger Slaughter for more information (415 487-0691 ext #104 or [email protected])
• Spread the word: Share information about the food drive with your networks

The SNAP program provides basic food assistance to more than 40 million people nationwide. With federal funding on hold, local nonprofits like At The Crossroads serve as the next line of defense for families already stretched too thin.

“Our community has always stepped up when our young people need support,” Jaeger Slaughter added. “We’re asking San Franciscans to help us ensure that no young person goes hungry this November.”

For more information about impact of the government shutdown and At The Crossroads’ food drive, contact Jaeger Slaughter, Operations Coordinator, at 415 487-0691 ext #104 or [email protected].