Valley College students seek alternative food resources as SNAP benefits are delayed

As the federal shutdown halts SNAP funding, Valley College forms an emergency food work group and grants to assist students.

By Hermes Padilla, Copy Editor

CAPTION: Students and community members line up to receive food from Valley's Basic Needs Center on Wednesday, Nov. 5, during a pop-up pantry in lieu of the SNAP benefits. (Arthur Vartanian for the Valley Star)

Hundreds of Valley College students who depend on SNAP benefits could soon face food insecurity as the nation’s longest government shutdown threatens aid for 42 million Americans. 

Data from the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services shows about 900 students at Valley currently receive SNAP benefits. The Basic Needs Center has provided these students numerous resources to combat the SNAP delays including emergency grants and daily food distribution.

“My words to students are: don’t be afraid, don’t be embarrassed, because these resources are for you, and use everything at your disposal,” said Juan Castellanos, Basic Needs counselor/coordinator of Valley College's Basic Needs Center. “Just like during the pandemic, we went through an unprecedented time. You’re not alone; if 900 students are not getting benefits, there are 899 other students in the same position as you.”

The Basic Needs Center launched the LAVC CalFresh Emergency Grant Application, securing up to $250 per student. An Emergency Food Action Plan Group has also been formed, and has allocated roughly $150,000 to $180,000 to assist students affected by delayed benefits.

The center previously operated weekly pop-up pantries and has now extended them to occur Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These pop-ups serve 50 to 60 students each day with the larger Wednesday food bank, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., helping over 200 students. Tickets are distributed starting at 8 a.m. to ensure a fair, first-come, first-served system. 

“It's weighing heavily on my mom’s shoulders,” said psychology major Joel Reys about the delay. “It's the reassurance that if a bad pay check came we had snap benefits that we could rely on, that no matter what happens, there will be food on the table.”  

Valley has also been a partner with Student LunchBox, which provides approximately 2,000 pounds of food each week for campus distributions. Combined with other donations, the center now distributes close to 8,000 pounds of groceries weekly.

“We’ve seen a 50 to 60 percent increase in students seeking food support since the SNAP delay was announced,” said Karlen Nurijanyan, Chief Executive Officer of Student LunchBox. “The lines now start over an hour before distribution begins. The need is growing fast, but the resources are not.”

The shutdown began Oct. 1 after the 2026 fiscal year funding was not secured due to unresolved disagreements over extensions for Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid protections. However, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called on the Trump administration to use emergency funds to prevent the imminent SNAP lapse. 

In California, lawmakers have directed over $80 million funding efforts to the local foodbanks while Gov. Gavin Newsom has deployed the California National Guard to support their efforts. 

Along with this, Newsom is suing the Trump administration for withholding federal funds for SNAP. Twenty other states have filed similar suits, claiming the federal refusal to fund the program is unlawful.

Although SNAP benefits are partially funded for the time being, the recent SNAP benefits delays have added to the uncertainty surrounding access to food for students like Ramon Gutiérrez, a 62-year-old music major who is disabled due to a prior accident. To supplement his family’s meals, he is relying on the campus resources. “I come to the food bank every Thursday and have been able to get essential food like rice, beans and canned goods. If you get here early, you can even get things like chicken, which is really helpful,” Gutiérrez said.

Students in need are encouraged to apply for the emergency grant by Nov. 10, and to come to Valley for food. Updates and resources are posted regularly on the Basic Needs Center’s Instagram. 

Rosemary Villalonga and Amanda Chaves contributed to this story.