If you or someone you know is trying to make sense of the new CalFresh work requirement, here’s what you need to know, and how volunteering can help.
As of June 1, 2026, new federal rules require many CalFresh (SNAP) recipients in California to complete 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month, of work, school, job training, or volunteering to keep their benefits. If this applies to you, volunteering at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is one option that counts, and it comes with the added benefit of helping provide food assistance to neighbors facing hunger across San Diego County.
What the New CalFresh Work Requirement Means
The requirement generally applies to CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 who don’t have a qualifying exemption, such as caring for a young child, living with a disability, or being pregnant. If it applies to your case, you’ll need to show a combination of work, school, job training, or volunteer hours adding up to 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month.
Every CalFresh case is different, and exemptions and documentation requirements can vary, so the Food Bank isn’t able to tell you whether the rule applies to your specific situation. To confirm your status, we recommend checking your case at BenefitsCal.com or calling the county’s Access Customer Service Center at (866) 262-9881.
How Volunteering at the Food Bank Counts
The Food Bank is an approved organization for CalFresh volunteer and community engagement hours. Whether you’re sorting produce, packing food boxes, or helping at a community distribution, your shift can count toward your monthly requirement.
Once you’re signed up, our volunteer team can help verify your hours. If you need documentation for your CalFresh case, request a verification form by emailing volunteer@sandiegofoodbank.org with the date range you need. Please allow three business days for a response.
Where and When You Can Volunteer
Shifts are available six days a week and last two or three hours, providing a flexible way to complete required hours while balancing family and other responsibilities. You can volunteer at either of our two warehouses in Miramar or Vista, and we also offer opportunities alongside our nonprofit partners more than 30 community distribution sites across the county (confirm correct amount?) each month.
How To Get Started
If you’re a new volunteer, create a VolunteerHub account and select that you’re completing a CalFresh requirement during registration. From there, you can browse open shifts and sign up for the days and locations that fit your schedule. The Food Bank’s volunteer FAQs covers other common questions, like what to wear and how scheduling works, if you want more detail before your first shift.
Existing volunteers can email volunteer@sandiegofoodbank.org and our team will update your account accordingly.
More Support if You Need It
If Food Bank offerings don’t fit your schedule, or you’re looking for other ways to meet your requirement, the county’s WorkReady Hub is a plentiful resource, listing additional job search, education, and volunteer options. You can also check BenefitsCal.com anytime to see how the new rules apply to your case.
And if you’re not currently on CalFresh but think you or someone you know might qualify, our CalFresh Outreach Program can walk you through the application process from start to finish.
So whether you’re signing up for your first shift or you’re an existing volunteer, the Food Bank is here to nourish our San Diego community — and help you maintain your CalFresh eligibility while doing it.