Greetings to all,
I’m writing today with a heavy heart—but also with deep resolve—because the stakes for our community have never been higher. As you may know, federal proposals are threatening major cuts to critical programs that protect food security and healthcare access for people who are already vulnerable: in particular, the nutrition support of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, known in California as CalFresh), and the health coverage and services offered through Medicaid / Medicare. These are not remote policy decisions; they affect our neighbors, our friends, our community. And when these programs are weakened, our local food pantries and shelters feel the impact immediately.
Sneak peek: Watch Daniel Scherer’s recent media interview with KCRA-TV: https://www.kcra.com/article/bay-area-food-providers-snap-benefits-run-out/69209556
What the numbers show in California:
• As of FY 2024, 5.38 million people received SNAP/CalFresh benefits each month—roughly 13.6 % of the state’s population.
• In Contra Costa County, more than 110,000 individuals receive CalFresh benefits.
Why this matters locally
When federal food-assistance programs are cut or delayed, it has a direct ripple effect on local food pantries and nonprofits, like Monument Crisis Center. Families who depend on CalFresh benefits will have to turn to charities, food banks, and food pantry services like ours for emergency assistance. We, your local social services organizations, are already stretched. And when healthcare programs like Medicaid or Medicare are scaled back, individuals with chronic illnesses, seniors, people with disabilities—those who already juggle multiple vulnerabilities— lose not only medical services but the stability that enables them to feed their families, pay rent, and look for work.
What this means for us now
Food is a human right. And in our community, whether a family can reliably put dinner on the table or a senior can afford both medications and nutritious meals should not hinge on shifting politics. Yet:
• When CalFresh benefits are delayed, cut or reduced, we expect a surge in demand at our local food pantries.
• If Medicaid/Medicare programs are weakened, more individuals will fall into crisis—health crises, housing instability, food insecurity—creating overlapping burdens that our community must absorb.
• Monument Crisis Center and our local nonprofit partners and volunteer networks will be under more strain—not just responding to these symptoms but picking up the pieces.
Our response
We have always been an organization of action – activating our staff, our volunteers, our donors, our entire community to support those in need. Here are a few ways Monument Crisis Center is responding to this unprecedented moment in time:
• We will remain open and ready to serve those most vulnerable in our community.
• Our staff and volunteers are mindful of the added stress and anxiety our clients may be experiencing from the loss of CalFresh and Medicare / Medicaid benefits. We are taking extra care to greet each individual with our signature service delivered with respect, integrity, and compassion.
• We are proud to share that our Pantry Expansion Project is underway. This is a major milestone that will double our food storage capacity to help us meet the rising demand in our community. While construction is ongoing, we are optimizing other spaces within the Center to collect and store in-kind donations of food that are beginning to pour in.
How you can make a difference
This is a moment for our community to step forward. Your support is more crucial than ever— not just to maintain our current services, but to expand our capacity and resilience. I ask you to consider increasing your giving, whether you donate monthly, a few times a year, or once a year.
You will enable us to:
• Boost emergency food supplies and logistical resources at Monument Crisis Center with gifts of food, toiletries, or money, so that when the federal programs falter, our community doesn’t collapse.
• Support outreach to ensure those eligible for CalFresh and Medi-Cal know how to apply, maintain benefits, and navigate changes.
• Shore up our safety-net organizations so they can absorb spikes in demand rather than fall behind.
We believe in a community where food and health are basic human rights—not optional benefits. We believe that when we take care of the most vulnerable, we all flourish. And we believe that in this moment, with programs under threat, your support matters more than ever.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can help ensure that no one in Contra Costa County goes hungry or un-cared for.
Gratefully yours,
Daniel Scherer, Executive Director