With unemployment in California at a high of 16.9 percent, many Southern Californians may find themselves struggling to put food on the table. 

Antonia Jimenez, Department of Public Social Services director, is encouraging those in need to apply for California’s nutritional assistance program, CalFresh, as a way to help. A family of four, for example, could receive the maximum of $646 per month as long as the income threshold is met. 

“A lot of the people on CalFresh are working families. They’re actually working but they’re not making ends meet and these dollars help with them to purchase the food that they need,” said Jimenez.

Because of the pandemic, the program has received an increase in applications at 179 percent compared to this time last year, according to Jimenez.

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