A food pantry in North Hollywood says it’s seeing an increase in demand as families face the high cost of living and changes to CalFresh.
“Our numbers are climbing every day,” Jane Poole, chairwoman of North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, told NBC Los Angeles.
CalFresh, known federally as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a program that helps eligible low-income households buy groceries. But new federal rules have expanded work requirements for some recipients and changed eligibility for certain groups.
According to Poole, funding changes to CalFresh took effect on Oct. 1 and some people had prepared by keeping money on their cards.
“Now, they’re in emergency mode,” Poole said. “We are hitting numbers right now. We hit 386 bags last Friday, which is what we hit when we have a budget crisis and the government shutdowns.”
For some who are already struggling to make ends meet, even a small change in their monthly budget can have a big impact.
“All of a sudden, there’s no money,” SNAP recipient Patrick Gregory said. “I’m like, where did the money go?”
Gregory says he goes to the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry to help fill a gap when benefits and finances run dry.
“I came here, and they offer a really good SNAP lunch, and you can get a bag full of food,” Gregory said.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in regional data for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area, food-at-home prices increased 3% over the year and jumped .09% in August 2026 alone.
Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, said the organization is also seeing higher food distribution this year than last year.
“What we’re hearing from families and adults seniors, and others is that their dollar is not going that far and we’re able to see the impact of inflation,” Flood said.
A study from the LA Regional Food Bank and USC Dornsife concluded that food insecurity held steady at 24% in 2025.
