San Diego residents relying on SNAP benefits say rising grocery prices and looming cuts to food assistance programs are making it increasingly difficult to afford food. Some South Bay residents shared those concerns Saturday during Sen. Adam Schiff’s visit to Feeding San Diego’s food market i n Mira Mesa. Residents said limited food bank access in South County is adding another burden for families already struggling with high living costs. For Dora Juarez, the trip from San Ysidro to Mira Mesa can take more than 30 minutes. Juarez said the drive reflects the lack of food resources closer to home. “You get the opportunity to choose your food. What you really need and. And that would be very, very beneficial for us,” Juarez said, wishing a food bank like this one, which lets you choose the food, existed closer to her home. Juarez said she currently receives $25 a month in SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, but said inflation has reduced what that assistance can buy. “Twenty-five dollars a month and it’s it’s not enough for my food. No. I still use it and I’m still thankful, but no, I need to come to these places, and I would like to not drive so far. You know if it would be closer It would be great,” Juarez said. Another food bank visitor, Xochitl Cortes, said rising prices have made it difficult to make benefits last. “The benefits are exactly the same. But the the the prices the prices are extremely extremely too high,” Cortes said, “It’s not enough for one month,” Cortes added. Schiff said millions of Americans are expected to lose food assistance as federal cuts take effect. “Well, I know that the impact of the president’s big, beautiful bill was to massively cut supplemental nutrition assistance. SNAP,” Schiff said. “3 to 4 million people do not get the food assistance now as a result of the cuts in that bill. $170 billion worth of cuts and all those cuts haven’t hit yet,” Schiff said. Schiff said he is working to restore SNAP funding and delay additional cuts. He also said voters should consider food affordability issues in upcoming elections. “I think that certainly when people go to vote, whether it’s in the gubernatorial race or other races, they’re going to be thinking, what are these candidates doing? What are they saying in terms of the need to bring down the cost of living,” Schiff said. Schiff also said he joined the Senate Agriculture Committee — the first California senator to serve on the committee in 35 years — with hopes of restoring some SNAP funding through a farm bill expected in the coming month. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less