Councilmember Justin Jones Calls on Pasadena Students to Help Families Facing Food Insecurity

With many local families still struggling from delayed federal food assistance and rising grocery costs, Pasadena City Councilmember Justin Jones is calling on high school students to step up and volunteer at local food pantries in the coming weeks.

Jones said that while a recent court decision may temporarily restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for Pasadena residents, relief is not guaranteed to arrive immediately.

Many households, he warned, are still facing critical gaps in food access.

“The court decision is a welcome relief, but it’s not certain and could be a one-to-two-week delay,” Jones said. “That’s why we have to focus on Stage 1 — getting food to people within the next week. Every day counts for families trying to stretch what little they have.”

Following an earlier joint call to action from Jones and Mayor Victor Gordo, several Pasadena-based organizations began mobilizing donations and expanding food distribution efforts. Many groups are now collecting grocery store gift cards and stocking pantry shelves in anticipation of increased demand if the federal funds take longer to arrive.

To strengthen that response, Jones is encouraging high school students to volunteer at one of the food pantries listed on the city’s website at cityofpasadena.net/#food-distribution-locations. He said student volunteers can play a vital role in helping to sort, pack, and distribute groceries to families in need.

As an added incentive, participating students will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Pasadena and a personalized college recommendation letter from Councilmember Jones acknowledging their community service.

Ain total, 17,711 Pasadena residents currently receive SNAP benefits, known in California as CalFresh.

The call for volunteers comes amid the ongoing 2025 federal government shutdown, which forced the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend November payments before a federal court ruling ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to continue the program.

Two federal judges ruled that the agency must tap approximately $5 billion in contingency reserves — and potentially $23 billion more — to keep benefits flowing during the shutdown, following lawsuits from multiple states.

City officials continue to monitor the status of federal food assistance while working with nonprofit partners to ensure that no resident goes without essential support.