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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1, 2025- The chill of worry and hunger cast a shadow over thousands of California families during the historic government shutdown, but help arrived in uniform. As the state’s food banks braced for overwhelming need, California National Guard members stepped forward—ready to serve the very communities that raised them. “I’m expediting state funds for food banks and directing the California National Guard and California Volunteers to help distribute this food to families. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, California is working to ensure CalFresh recipients don’t go hungry while food prices are spiking…” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a press release on Oct. 22, 2025.
On October 23, 2025, the California Army National Guard was activated to support food banks statewide as the longest-running government shutdown disrupted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits for millions of Americans. CalGuard members were eager to volunteer and give back.
As U.S. Army Spc. Jazmine Contreras, a signal operations support specialist (25U) with the 240th Signal Company, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade shared, “That’s why I joined. Despite the uniform, I’m still part of this community, and I want to give back in any way I can.”
Service members of the 40th Division Sustainment Brigade answered the call to support various food banks from Sacramento to San Diego. They partnered daily with community organizations and county officials as food banks braced for an influx of families facing food insecurity. For many Soldiers, this humanitarian mission was an opportunity to reconnect with what it means to be a part of a community—helping others when help is needed most.
Each day, service members were the first to arrive at their assigned food banks. They sorted produce, built food kits, palletized supplies, organized warehouse inventory and distributed resources in the community. No task was too large or too small. They knew the food banks were in need of additional support and the guard was there to share some of that weight.
At distribution sites in Bakersfield and Indio, some community members waited in long lines, uncertain of what to expect. But as they approached Soldiers—whether in their vehicles or on foot—relief quickly replaced fear. Within a brief 30-second interaction, families received the food they needed. Gratitude followed. “Thank you for your service!” and “God bless you!” echoed from car windows as people drove away. With a heartfelt desire to serve, and the ability to communicate in various languages when needed, soldiers offered comfort and reassurance, reminding the community—and themselves—that they belonged to each other.
Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), an organization whose mission is to increase access to healthy, affordable food, served more than 12,000 additional families with support from the Guard and California Volunteers.
“We couldn’t have done that work without the partnership we have with the California National Guard and Cal Volunteers. I was very proud to work alongside them,” said Kelly Lowery, a food bank administrator with CAPK.
The feeling was mutual for Guard members across the state. As Sgt. 1st Class Gonzalo Aldape packaged shelf stable goods at Food In Need of Distribution (FIND) food bank in Indio, Calif., he gauges how he felt on day 21 of this mission. “This is a very rewarding feeling, to work with the civilian population distributing food, there’s honestly no greater mission than what we are doing right now.”
Giving back and assisting his community during this mission was personal for Sgt. Gerardo Ramirez, a motor transport operator (88M) with the 1072nd Transportation Company, 40th DSB. “My dad was working the fields, and my ma, and we didn’t have food sometimes and we would go to food banks or churches, and they would always help us out.”
Although this humanitarian mission has ended, the fight against food insecurity continues. Together, service members of the 40th DSB helped process and distribute more than 7.9 million pounds of food—equivalent to 6.65 million meals—reaching approximately 662,000 Californians. After 38 days across 9 food banks, 77 service members of the California National Guard helped make great strides during these difficult times.
“The California Military Department, under the direction of the Governor’s Office, is proud to support food bank operations across the state,” said Maj. Gen. Matthew P. Beevers, the adjutant general of the California National Guard. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cal Guard service members played a crucial role in this effort, and they are honored to serve their communities once again.”
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| Date Taken: | 12.01.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.05.2025 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 553031 |
| Location: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Neighbors In Uniform, by CPT Gabriela Glavis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
