What you can do
about SNAP delays
Information on the local impact of the SNAP delays and what you can do to help in Sonoma Valley.
Need food assistance, or know someone who does?
Text "FOOD" or “COMIDA” to (707) 353-3882 to get free food information for Sonoma Valley.
The national context.
The federal government has reopened, and full SNAP benefits for November have been issued to all eligible participants. The program will remain open moving forward (as of November 21, 2025).
However, significant federal changes to SNAP rules for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) are scheduled to roll out soon. These changes will make it more challenging for many adults to remain enrolled.
What’s Changing (ABAWD Requirements)
Under new federal rules:
The ABAWD age range is expanding up to age 64 (previously 49–54, depending on state waiver periods).
The exemption for households with children is narrowing — only those caring for a child under age 14 will be exempt.
Several groups that previously had exemptions — such as many veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and some former foster-youth categories — may now be subject to time limits.
ABAWDs must meet 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or approved training to keep benefits beyond the three-months-in-three-years time limit.
States are expected to begin enforcing these new requirements starting November 1, 2025.
Local Impact—What This Means for Sonoma Valley.
Our calculations indicate that the combined impact of expanded ABAWD rules and immigration-related eligibility challenges could create a new gap of approximately 300–400 Sonoma Valley residents who may lose SNAP access or be unable to qualify under the new standards.
At the current average CalFresh benefit of roughly $193 per person per month, this represents an estimated $58,000–$77,000 in lost monthly food-spending power in Sonoma Valley. These dollars would normally circulate through local grocery stores, neighborhood markets, farms, and small food businesses — representing a meaningful loss to the local economy.
Administrative Strain & Slower Approvals
The new federal requirements also place a substantial administrative burden on county CalFresh eligibility workers. Shorter renewal windows, more frequent documentation checks, and increased verification for ABAWD cases will likely:
Increase processing time for recertifications
Slow down approval of new applications because of the increased work load
Cause more procedural denials or disenrollments (even for otherwise eligible households)
This is expected to occur at the same time that inflation, food costs, and housing expenses remain high when SNAP is needed more than ever.
What you can do.
Your support—whether through monetary donations, food contributions, volunteer time, or shopping locally—can help fill this gap and ensure that no one in Sonoma Valley goes hungry. Together, we can keep our community strong in a time of urgent need.
Help fill the gap.
Donate groceries.
Want to donate groceries but not sure where to take them? Sign up to donate a bag of food with SimpleGesture, and they’ll pick it up from your doorstep and distribute it to multiple pantries and organizations across Sonoma Valley. If you shop at Lucky Supermarket, a donation table is set up inside for donations that will be distributed by ExtraFood.
Donate and glean extra produce.
Have fruit trees or a garden with extra produce? Sign up to have your property gleaned or volunteer as a gleaner with ExtraFood. Your harvest will reach neighbors in need within 24 hours.
Donate to local organizations.
Many nonprofits and businesses are pivoting to help fill the gap. You can donate to support their efforts.
Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB): Feeds 4,000 Sonoma Valley community members multiple times each month and is expanding two SV distributions to reach even more people.
ExtraFood Recovers 300,000 lbs of food in Sonoma Valley annually, delivering to six community fridges, multiple pantries, and hot meal programs—about 250,000 meals per year—and is stepping up it’s food recovery, gleaning and grocery donation efforts.
Unity Kitchen prepares 300 meals daily for unhoused and food-insecure community members and is stocking its community fridge and pantry with extra staples to prepare for increased demand.
FISH serves 600 people monthly and has increased their Christmas food donations by 20% to support clients facing a financially challenging winter.
La Luz is expanding their services and distributing gift cards so families can purchase the food they need most. Contribute to their food gift card drive.
Comida Para Todos continues providing monthly deliveries of culturally relevant food, offering dignity and stability to families facing heightened fear and uncertainty due to challenges like SNAP cuts and ICE activity.
Farm to Pantry rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and getting it to people in need.
St. Francis will remain open and ready to provide essential shelf-stable groceries to clients.
St. Leo’s Church remains a cornerstone pantry in the valley and is one of the primary ways community members receive food for Thanksgiving.
wakeUP sonoma is raising money for SNAP. You can purchase a donation of one or more grocery cards valued at $20 each through their every donation page by adding “snap”, and your donation will be used to purchase a grocery card.
Learn more about the ongoing food security crisis in Sonoma Valley through our Food Security Initiative.
Contact our Food Security Network Weaver Elise Gonzales at elise@sonomavalleycatalystfund.org to add your organization or other opportunities to this resource page.