Following the Hawarden, Eagle, Macy, and Nixon fires that swept through Riverside County starting in late July, residents enrolled in CalFresh are eligible to access replacement benefits for food lost during these incidents.
The deadline to report food loss and request these essential benefits has been extended to Aug. 27. This extension includes impacted CalFresh households in Butte, Kern, Plumas, Riverside, Shasta, and Tehama counties.
State officials estimate that approximately 57,056 active CalFresh households in the affected areas, who received around $11.6 million in benefits, may have lost food purchased with these funds.
“Our goal is to help our CalFresh customers recover quickly,” said Allison Gonzalez, assistant director of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). “We urge them to report their food loss before the deadline to secure their replacement benefits.”
CalFresh recipients who lost food during the recent fires can report their losses by calling 1-877-410-8827, going to a local DPSS office, or submitting a report at BenefitsCal.com by Aug. 27.
Additionally, families who lost food purchased with SUN Bucks due to recent fires can request replacement benefits by calling (877) 328-9677 by Aug. 31. SUN Bucks is a new federal food program administered by the California Department of Social Services, designed to ensure that children in low-income families have adequate nutrition while school is out for the summer.
CalFresh, on the other hand, is California’s largest food assistance program, providing monthly electronic benefits to purchase groceries at stores, farmers markets, and online through select retailers like Amazon, Ralphs, and Walmart.
County residents not currently enrolled in CalFresh who might need food assistance are encouraged to apply at BenefitsCal.com, call 1-877-410-8827, or visit their nearest DPSS office.