What food assistance programs exist for children besides CalFresh? Need options while waiting for approval

There are actually several programs specifically for kids besides CalFresh! Here are some you should definitely check out:\n\n- School Breakfast & Lunch Programs: If your kids are in public school, apply for free/reduced meals ASAP. In 2025, the income limits are pretty generous. Most schools have online applications now.\n\n- Summer EBT for Children: This provides extra food benefits during summer when school meals aren't available. About $40 per child per month on an EBT card.\n\n- After School Snack Program: Many schools and some community centers offer free snacks/meals after school.\n\n- P-EBT: If your kids qualify for free/reduced school meals, they might qualify for Pandemic-EBT (they kept the name but it's now a permanent program in California).\n\nAlso, while waiting for CalFresh approval, ask your county worker about expedited services - if you qualify, you could get benefits in 3 days instead of 30!

Thank you soooo much for this information! I had no idea about Summer EBT or that P-EBT was still around. I thought that ended with COVID. My kids already get free lunch at school but I didn't know about the after school program. Do you know how I apply for the Summer EBT? Is that through the school or county office?

my kids get the school lunch n breakfast its really helps us big time. also check churches in ur area!!!! ours does a wednesday night dinner 4 families + gives groceries every other friday. dont b shy about asking 4 help im a single mom too we all need help sometimes

That's a great idea about the churches. There's one down the street I can check with. Do they usually require proof of income or anything? I feel awkward just showing up asking for food.

nope most dont ask 4 anything maybe just how many ppl in ur household. they r really nice about it trust me

As someone who works with food assistance programs, I want to add that you should definitely call back about the expedited CalFresh. If your household income is less than $150/month and your resources are under $100, OR if your rent/utilities exceed your monthly income, OR if you're a migrant/seasonal farmworker with limited resources, you qualify for 3-day processing.\n\nAlso, while schools offer great programs, don't forget to check:\n\n- Local Boys & Girls Clubs often have free meal programs\n- YMCA sometimes offers free meals to members\n- Many libraries now partner with food programs during summer\n- Call 211 for a complete list of food programs in your specific area\n\nOne last thing - your 5-year-old might still qualify for WIC. The cutoff is 5 years old, so until their 5th birthday, they're eligible.

Thank you for this detailed info! My 5 year old actually just turned 5 last month so I guess we missed the WIC window. My rent is definitely more than my income right now after my hours got cut, so I'll call about expedited processing. Question though - if I get expedited benefits, will that affect my regular application in any way?

Expedited benefits won't negatively affect your regular application at all! It's basically just putting you at the front of the processing line because your situation is urgent. You'll still need to complete all the verification requirements for ongoing benefits, but you'll get emergency benefits while that's happening. Make sure to emphasize to the worker that your rent exceeds your current income - that's a clear qualifier for expedited service.

Have u tried calling the CalFresh office to check on ur application? I kno its a NIGHTMARE getting thru those phone lines. I was on hold for 2 HOURS last month and then got disconnected! When I finally got my benefits they were backdated but my kids still had to wait 3 weeks to eat properly. Its so frustrating!!!

I had the SAME PROBLEM trying to reach my worker! Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in like 5 minutes. Saved me hours of waiting on hold. Just go to claimyr.com - they have a demo video too so you can see how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 \n\nWorth it to get things sorted quickly when your kids need food! That's how I found out I qualified for expedited benefits that my worker never mentioned.

I've been trying to call but you're right, it's impossible. I'll check out that Claimyr thing, thanks! Yesterday I gave up after 45 minutes on hold. Did your kids qualify for any of those other programs mentioned above while you were waiting?

Yes! My kids got school meals and we also found a church food pantry that gave us enough to get by. Definitely look into the expedited benefits - if I'd known about those or been able to reach someone earlier we wouldn't have struggled so much!

Just wanted to add that most school districts now have what's called CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) where ALL students get free meals regardless of income. Check if your kids' school has this! Also, I've had luck with local community action agencies - they often have emergency food assistance that doesn't require all the paperwork CalFresh does. Lastly, some grocery stores have food recovery programs where they donate almost-expired food to families in need - worth asking at your local stores.

Their school does have free meals for everyone, which has been a huge help! I never thought about asking at grocery stores though. Do you just talk to the manager or is there usually a specific program to ask about?

They've made this system SO COMPLICATED on purpose!!!! I spent 6 MONTHS trying to navigate all these different programs for my grandkids. Each one has different applications, different websites, different phone numbers. And heaven forbid you make $5 over their limit - DENIED!!! The whole system is designed to make you give up. My advice? Apply for EVERYTHING and document EVERYTHING. These agencies

I'm so worried about this happening to us too. Did you ever get everything straightened out for your grandkids? I'm keeping copies of everything I submit just in case.

Yes, finally got it all working but only because I literally went to the office in person and refused to leave until they helped me. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these agencies. Keep EVERYTHING, take names of everyone you talk to, and dates. Good luck - the system is broken but there are a few good workers who actually care.

To answer your question from earlier, Summer EBT is usually automatically provided if your children qualify for free/reduced school meals. The school should provide the information to the state, and then benefits are loaded onto a card (either your existing EBT card or a separate one).\n\nBased on all the replies here, you should:\n\n1. Call about expedited CalFresh benefits (using that call service someone mentioned to avoid the wait)\n2. Check with local churches and community organizations \n3. Make sure your school has your current information for any summer programs\n4. Call 211 to get connected to all available resources in your specific area\n\nHang in there - the first month is the hardest while waiting for benefits to start.

Thank you so much for this summary! I'm going to start with calling about expedited benefits tomorrow using that Claimyr service. I just checked and my county has a 211 website too so I'm looking through that now. It feels so overwhelming but this helps a lot to have steps to follow.