Food Insecurity Amid SNAP Uncertainty: Resources Available In Pass Area

BANNING, CA — Amid the uncertainty surrounding food assistance, many families are facing increased hardship.

The office of Riverside County Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez is working to address the service gap for residents, including those who may have lost access to SNAP benefits.

The office is running several free food distribution events across District 5 (https://rivcodistrict5.org/free-food-distribution). Upcoming events include:

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Nov 13, 2025, at 150 E Ramsey St, Banning, CA 92220

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Nov 19, 2025, at the James A. Venable Community Center, 50390 Carmen Ave, Cabazon, CA 92230

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec 4, 2025, at the Nuview Library, 29990 Lakeview Ave, Nuevo, CA 92567

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec 11, 2025, at 150 E Ramsey St, Banning, CA 92220

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec 17, 2025, at the James A. Venable Community Center, 50390 Carmen Ave, Cabazon, CA 92230

In September, the supervisor's office announced it had received $90,000 in Unincorporated Communities Initiative funding. The funds are supporting 36 free produce distribution events in District 5 over the next year (including those listed above), bringing 792,000 pounds of fresh food to residents in need, according to the office.

District 5 stretches from Moreno Valley to Cabazon and from as far south as Hemet up to Calimesa. The cities include Moreno Valley, San Jacinto, Hemet, Calimesa, Beaumont, and Banning. Unincorporated areas include Banning Bench, Cherry Valley, Cabazon, Nuevo, Lakeview, Reche Canyon, Potts Flats and San Timoteo.

To help make the food distribution events possible, the Supervisor's office partnered with Bienestar is Wellbeing, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity in underserved communities throughout California. Since July 2023, the organization has distributed 18 million pounds of food to over 150,000 people across the Inland Empire Region. It works with over 40 organizations, including Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Molina Healthcare, according to Gutierrez's office.

Produce distributions are being held in Nuevo, San Jacinto, Cabazon, and Banning, with each distribution providing about 22,000 free pounds of produce. Nuevo and San Jacinto will each receive six distributions over the year, occurring every other month, while Cabazon and Banning will each receive 12 distributions, occurring every month.

Additionally, food distributions funded by IEHP are being held in the cities of Moreno Valley and Hemet; a calendar for those specific events is available at: https://www.bienestariswellbeing.org/calendar-locations.

The distributions are drive-thru style, and registration is required. Residents can register beforehand online or on-site the day of the distribution. To register online, visit https://rivcodistrict5.org/free-food-distribution and fill out the registration form.

“Food security is a critical issue in our communities, and I am proud to partner with organizations like Bienestar is Wellbeing to bring nutritious foods to our residents,” Gutierrez said. “This program will build a healthier community, and we are committed to ensuring our most vulnerable residents have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.”