SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – With the November 1 deadline looming for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), thousands of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County residents will soon be without hundreds of dollars a month that were used for food.
CalFresh is the federally funded SNAP program for California residents, and users receive benefits on an EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer, card that can be used only for food in stores. CalFresh is affected by the government shutdown, though any unused funds on EBT cards will remain on the card.
In El Dorado County. 14,830 residents receive CalFresh benefits ranging from $292 per month for a single person to $975 for a family of four. Of those numbers, 2,858 county residents in the Lake Tahoe Basin receive food benefits through CalFresh.
The local impact of the lack of CalFresh could be over $1 million. If the average received by the 2,858 recipients is $500 per month, the community impact would be $1,429,000. Even if all received the minimum of $292, the local impact is over $834,000.
To help fill the need for food on the South Shore, several nonprofits provide not only food, but also other necessities. With an anticipated rise in the need for food and supplies, these nonprofits also take donations to help fill the bags of food for those in need.
Bread & Broth
For over 40 years, Bread & Broth has been providing food for South Lake Tahoe. They give a hot meal at Grace Hall, 1041 Lyons Avenue, on Mondays, and a hot soup meal through their Second Serving program at Lake Tahoe Community Church, 2733 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Mondays are from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Fridays are from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. They have been serving an average of 120 people a night and expect those numbers to rise. The whole community is invited, and people do not have to be already receiving government benefits (no forms required),
Monday guests not only get a hot meal, but also food “giveaway” bags containing canned goods, fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products (eggs, butter, and milk), and breads/pastries.
Friday guests get soup, salad, and a simple entree (lasagna, chili dogs, pasta dishes, etc.) and “giveaway” bags containing fruit, vegetables, breads/pastries based on availability of food items.
They also provide weekend bags of food for over 150 children, preschool through high school. The bags contain seven meals and snacks.
Donations are accepted for all of their programs. They prefer a monetary donation through a “donation button” on their website so they can purchase what is needed and, with donated dollars, are able to buy more through their sources. For those wanting to drop off food: Drop off at Grace Hall at St. Theresa Church between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays. The volunteers are only there during these times for drop off. They don’t accept anything expired and take non-perishable and canned food. For the children’s program (Bread & Broth 4 Kids), kid-friendly food in single-serving sizes is accepted.
Christmas Cheer
Christmas Cheer is open three days a week, though Wednesdays are only for disabled veterans. They are located at 1120 3rd Street in South Lake Tahoe and are open for the general public 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For those wishing to donate, Christmas Cheer has big bins at Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Raleys, Tahoe Keys Marina and Caesars Republic. They also take donations during their open hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They also accept clothing and household items, kids’ books and toys, and bedding. They cannot accept mattresses or other large items due to a lack of storage space.
The nonprofit said they are seeing a large increase in those coming by for food, especially over the last week.
They will be delivering holiday food boxes on Dec. 17 and 18, and donations are being accepted.
South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center has been serving the community for 50 years. They are located at 3501 Spruce, #B (the portable adjacent to Bijou Community School). They provide food and essentials to all South Lake Tahoe locals, and donations from the public are needed to fill the needs.
What is needed: Cereal, lentils, rice, pasta, dry beans, peanut butter, flour, masa flour, powdered milk, boxed soy/nut milk, cooking oil, canned tomatoes abd vegetables, sugar and sandwich bread. Nonfood items needed are sanitary products, diapers, baby wipes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, razors and toilet paper.
Donated items can be dropped off 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Saturdays. People in need of these items can pick up during the same times.
Phoenix Food Pantry
Phoenix is a drive-through food source in the parking lot at the Lake Tahoe Presbyterian Church, 2733 Lake Tahoe Blvd. They are open on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon. They provide a box full of food.
Food is also available at Vista Rise (formerly Live Violence Free) at 2941 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. They give bags out on Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and on the second Friday of the month, noon to 1 p.m.
The Northern Nevada Food Bank makes a stop in South Lake Tahoe on the third Friday of the month, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion parking lot, 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Hopeful Lunches has a van full of sack lunches that goes to various areas in South Lake Tahoe to serve those who need food.
The South Lake Tahoe Solidarity Network has created an online list of all food and mutual aid services that can be found at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BKYS3aD3uazofT-nLDyz8TwmTFKCtOfL9UanWfrw1F0/edit?gid=0#gid=0.
Bread and Broth also has a list of food sources in Spanish and English, see below.