John Kitchin:  Engineer, Author, Minister

NZ9F.com      FOOD STAMPS, EBT California, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are all the same thing.  The US  Dept. of Agriculture no longer issues script pieces of paper (food stamps).  Instead you get a special "debit card" that can be used at grocery stores, and even most roadside farmers' markets.  This has reduced fraud a lot. 

In most states, you can apply for assistance on-line at:  www.fns.usda.gov/snap.  And, in most states you can apply by telephone at  1-800-952-5253 (California) or  1-800-221-5689 (other States).  One exception is if your particular county borders Canada or Mexico, or in many other areas that have been a problem.  Then, there are additional fraud-prevention requirements, such as an in-person interview, at which you present requested documents and a completed application form.  Expect that any documents provided will be verified to make certain that they are not counterfeit.  You do NOT need to be a US citizen to receive Food Stamps-EBT-SNAP.  However, you must be in the country legally, and your immigrant status will be closely checked.

Other food giveaway programs fall into these three categories:

FOOD BANK:  No income or residency requirements.  Donated food is given away to whoever needs it.  All you have to do is show up at a given time and place.  No identification required.   Shop either for the location nearest you, or the time nearest right now.  This website contains two lists, one by location, and the other by time/date.  WARNING:  Locations have been running out of food.  Get in line or get a ticket hours early!

COMMODITY SITE:  Open only to residents of a certain zip code or zip codes.  Your income must be less than a certain amount, depending upon the size of your family.  In San Diego, due to the high cost of rent, you need a very large income to not qualify.  Details posted at sites.  Lately, commodity sites have been running out of food; unless you arrive hours early, you might not get any.

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY:  Open only to residents of a certain area, and generally requires picture ID and proof of residence.  Usually a utility bill is enough to prove where you live.  These are for occasional use only, as necessary.

In addition to these sites, you should look on www.211SanDiego.org or call "211" from any phone, and free from any payphone.

FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION PLACES:  SHOW UP HOURS EARLY OR YOU MIGHT NOT GET FOOD!   9 AM AT:

NORTH DOWNTOWN= (HILLCREST):  1st Tuesday  3909 Centre Street, San Diego  92117.  Map 1269-C5.  Near 16th and University Ave., although there is no 16th St. per se.

SOUTH BAY= (CHULA VISTA):  1st Friday 395 D Street, Chula Vista  91910.  4th (Highland) at D, on bus route 929.  Map 1310-A5. 

EAST SAN DIEGO:  2nd Monday  5250 Lea Street, San Diego  92105.  2 blocks south of 54th and University.  Bus route 7, Map 1270-B5. 

MEXICAN BORDER:  2nd Tuesday  2020 Alaquinas Dr., San Ysidro  92173.  Map 1350-G2.  Near Beyer Blvd. Trolley, 2 blocks east/south on Beyer, then left (north) a block.  

EAST COUNTY= (LA MESA):  2nd Friday  8809 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa  91941.  Just south of Grossmont Center Mall.  Grossmont Center Drive becomes La Mesa Blvd.  Map 1271-A2.

CENTRAL CITY ENCANTO:  3rd Monday 5825 Imperial Ave., Encanto  92114.  4 long blocks (double-length) west of the Encanto Trolley Station (Orange Trolley Line).  On Bus Route 4.   

EAST COUNTY= ( EL CAJON CITY):  3rd Tuesday  1465 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon  92019.  Map 1352-A4.  East of 2nd St., near Main.  Bus routes 874/875 or 815.

SOUTHEAST SPRING VALLEY:  4th Tuesday  2300 Bancroft Ave., Spring Valley  91977.  Map 1271-A7.  Bankcroft exit of the 94 freeway, south, or use Palm (Troy) Ave. out of Lemon Grove.  Bus Route 851 out of the Spring Street Trolley Station. 

SOUTHEAST LEMON GROVE:  Last Friday  2055 Skyline Dr., Lemon Grove  91945  (That first date is Christmas, so please confirm at website below.)  Map 1270-H7, or 1290-H1.  A few blocks east of the trolley line.  Skyline Dr. is also called Kempf or Cardiff.

For more information:  www.sandiegofoodbank.org/programs/communitycares/

EAST COUNTY COMMODITY SITES:  SHOW UP HOURS EARLY OR YOU MIGHT NOT GET FOOD!  Once a month as indicated:   A list for South Bay follows below.

91646- 2770 Glebe Rd., Lemon Grove, 3rd Tues, 10 AM.  Map 1270-F7.  4 blocks east of Massachusetts, on San Miguel (also called Palm and Troy).

91934, 91505, 91931- 3rd Tuesday, Boulevard Fire Station 9 AM and Jacumba Fire Station 1 PM.

92019, 92020, 92021- 1012 E. Bradley Ave., El Cajon, 3rd Tues. 7 AM in line, 8 Am at the latest.   East of 67 Freeway exit.  Map 1251-H2.  6 blocks north of 1st and Greenfield, or 2 blocks south of 1st and Pepper.  No bus access.   Arrive many hours early!

91977- 3310 Bancroft Dr., Spring Valley, 3rd. Tues. 9 AM.  Map 1271-A6, a block south of Bancroft and Kenwood.

92036- Julian Town Hall, Julian, 3rd. Tues. 9 AM.

91941, 92119, 91942- 4207 Springs Gardens Road, La Mesa, church gym, 3rd Tues. 8 AM.  Map 1270-J4.  3 blocks east of Spring St. Trolley.

91977- 9617 Campo Rd., Spring Valley, 3rd Tues 9:30 AM.  Map 1271-C5.  A block north and west of Kenwood Dr. exit of 94 freeway.

91935, 91977- 9255 Lamaar St., Spring Valley, 3rd Tues. 8 AM.  Map 1270-J6.  A block north of Troy, near Sweetwater Rd.

91980, 91963, 91917- Potrero Kiwanis Club (Community Center) 3rd. Mon. 3:30 PM.

91906- 376 Sheridan Rd., Campo, 3rd Wed. 1:30 Campo Senior Center.

91916, 91920, 91901- 25130 Viejas Blvd., Descanso, 3rd Wed., noon.

91906- Lake Morena Malt Shop, 3rd Wed. 2:30 PM.

91931- 27521 Old Hwy 80, Guatay, 3rd Wed. 10:45 AM.

91962, 91948- Pine Valley Club House, 3rd Wed 9 AM.

92020, 92021- 1011 East Main St., El Cajon, 3rd Wed, 9:30 AM.  Map 1251-H5.  At Anza Dr., bus 815-816.  In December, all numbers for food were given away by 8:30 AM.  Average wait time, 3 to 4 hours.

91977- 9119 Jamacha Rd., Spring Valley 3rd Tue 5 PM.  Map 1291-B2.  4 blocks north of Jamacha Blvd., just east of Sweetwater and the 125 freeway.

92071- 9459 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee 3rd. Mon. 1 PM.  Map 1231-B6.  Half mile west of the trolley, and half mile east of the 52-125 freeway interchange.

92036- 710 Shooting Iron Trail, Julian, 3rd Tues., 8 AM.

91977- 730 Conception Ave., Spring Valley, 3rd Tues. 10:30 AM.  Map 1291-B4.  2 blocks west of Grand Ave. and Jamacha Blvd.

91914, 91935, 91978- 10707 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley, 3rd. Tues. 3 PM.  Map 1271-F1.  Near Sweetwater Springs Blvd.

92066, 92070, 92086- Community Center, 30951 Hwy. 79, Warner Springs  3rd Tues., noon.

SOUTH BAY COMMODITY SITES:  ARRIVE HOURS EARLY OR YOU MIGHT NOT GET ANY FOOD!

2nd Fridays, 9 AM, Oxford Apts., Oxford near Broadway, Chula Vista.

2nd Fridays, 6 PM, Loma Verde Rec Center, next to park at Hilltop and Orange, Chula Vista.

2nd Fridays, 9 AM, South Bay Pentecostal, 4th and D Sts., Chula Vista.

2nd Fridays, 9 AM, Project Hand, 580 Hilltop at I St., Chula Vista.

2nd Fridays, 6:30 AM, United Methodist, half a block east of 5th and Palm Ave., Imperial Beach.

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRIES:  (East County):  (a list for South Bay follows below)

Crisis House, 1034 N. Magnolia, El Cajon  CA  92020.   (619) 444-1194.  Provided much of the information on this web page.  Mon. thru Fri., 8:30-11:00 AM, plus Mon., Tue., Thur., and Fri. afternoons, 1 PM to 3 PM.  Closed on Wednesday afternoons.  Closed Sat., Sun., and Holidays.  Bring picture ID, Social Security Card (including children's), Medi-Cal card, or Birth Certificate.  May get food here only twice a year.  Located just north of the Home Depot on Broadway, El Cajon, across from the police station.  Bring backpacks, cloth sacks, or a car to haul food.  Map 1251-F3.  Bus routes 874/875, 848, and 833 out of El Cajon Trolley.

Salvation Army, 1011 East Main St., El Cajon CA  92020.   (619) 440-3579.  Mon. 9-12, Tue. 10:30-12 & 1:30-4, Wed. 9-12 & 1:30-4 except the third Wed of the month (closed)., Thur., 10-30-12, and Fri. 9-12 & 1:30-4.  Bring proof of residency (rent receipt only), picture ID, and proof of the problem (medical bill, etc.)  Also provide proof of current income.  Must live in El Cajon, Lakeside, Santee, Spring Valley, Alpine, or Jamul ONLY.  May receive assistance 3 times a year maximum, 60 days between each help instances, and each emergency situation must be unrelated and different.  Map 1251-H5.  Main St. at Anza, bus routes 815-816 out of El Cajon Trolley.

Holy Trinity Church, 405 Ballard St., El Cajon  CA  92019.   (619) 444-9425.  Mon-Wed-Fri, 10-11 AM.  Also, Tue. and Thur., 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.  MUST HAVE REFERRAL FROM ANOTHER AGENCY.  Also need picture ID and proof of residency in City of El Cajon (such as rent receipt or utility bill).  Map 1251-J6.  3 blocks east of 1st, 2 blocks south of Main.

La Mesa Thrift, 8340 Lemon Ave., La Mesa  CA  91942.   (619) 466-6678.  Tues., Wed., and Thurs. only, 10 AM to Noon and 1 PM to 2:30 PM.  Picture ID and proof that you live in the City of La Mesa.Map 1270-J3.  2 blocks south of La Mesa Blvd. Trolley, follow Spring St. 1 block south of La Mesa Blvd.

Lakeside Christian Help, 9931 Channel Road, Lakeside, CA  91942.  (619) 561-3488.  Mon. thru Fri., 10 AM to Noon.  Picture ID and proof that you live in Lakeside or go to church there.  Map 1232-A3.  2 blocks north of Woodside, 2 blocks south of Mapleview, and 2 blocks west of Maine/Los Coches.

Santee Food Bank, information provided is incorrect.  (619) 448-4456.  Wed. and Fri., 9 to 11 AM.  Picture ID, proving that you live in the City of Santee.

Santa Sophia Church, 9800 San Juan St., Spring Valley  CA  91977.  (619) 463-6629.   Tues. and Thurs., 9-10:30 AM, plus Sat. 9-11 AM.  Picture ID and proof that you live in the Village of Spring Valley.  Map 1271-D5.  2 blocks east of Kenwood, 1 block north of Campo Rd.

Seventh Day Adventist Church, 4207 Spring Gardens Rd., La Mesa  CA  91941.  (619) 461-5704.   Just off Spring Street.  Mon., Tue., Wed., and Thurs., 9 AM to Noon.  Bring picture ID or a Social Security Card.  Map 1270-J4.  3 blocks east of Spring St. Trolley.

St. Martin's Church, 7710 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa, CA  91941  (619) 465-5334.  Mon. thru Fri., 10 AM to Noon.  Picture ID and prove you live in the City of La Mesa.  Map 1270-G2.  3 blocks south and 10 blocks east of 70th St. trolley stop.

Lake Morena Food Pantry, www.bigfoot.com, 468-6855.

SOUTH BAY EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRIES: 

KidFood (for children under 16 only):  1-866-kidfood  ♦♦♦  Salvation Army Meals on Wheels:  (619) 498-0298  ♦♦♦  Food Bank:  (619) 523-8811  ♦♦♦ Good Neighbor Center:  (619) 429-0802. 

Salvation Army, 3rd and J St., Chula Vista, Mon. thru Fri., 9 AM to 2 PM.

St. Rose Church, 3rd and H, Chula Vista, in back, near KFC.  Mon, Wed, and Fri, 3-4:30 PM.  (619) 427-7637.

Most Precious Blood Church, 1245 Fourth Ave., Chula Vista, in back lot, Tues and Thurs 11:30 AM to 3 PM.  (619)  422-2100.     

Project Hand, 580 Hilltop at I St., Chula Vista,  Mon. thru Thurs., 9 AM to 2 PM.   (619) 425-4061.

South Bay Pentecostal, 4th and D St., Chula Vista, First Fridays at 9 AM.

Imperial Beach, United Methodist, half a block east of 5th and Palm Ave., Tue. and Thur., 9 to 11 AM.

FOOD SHOPPING TIPS:  Your first choice for food should be the 99 Cents Only Stores, www.99only.com, or Save-a-Lot Foods, at www.Save-A-Lot.com.   After that, produce is least expensive at Foodland, IGA, Kaelin's, Sprouts, and other local markets.  Meat specials are a great deal at Ralph's.  Of the chain stores, Food-4-Less is the least expensive, with Von's and Albertson's the costliest.  Use the Wednesday flyers, of course!

CORRECTIONS:  nz9f@hotmail.com

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