CalFresh, formerly known as Food Stamps and known federally as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), provides extra funds to help those who are in need each month to buy groceries.

With a CalFresh electronic “debit” card (known as EBT) you can buy most foods at many food stores and farmers markets.

Several Nevada County Farmers Markets offer a CalFresh matching program called Market Money (or Market Match), where you can double your CalFresh dollars up to a specified dollar amount per market per week. Amount may change from year to year.


Apply for CalFresh

Californians can visit BenefitsCal.com or GetCalFresh.org to apply or call 877-847-3663 (FOOD) to be connected to their local county social service office.

CalFresh is a low income program - the gross income limit is 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. However, CalFresh program rules are complex - some income is not countable, and some individuals with income below 200% FPL may not qualify for CalFresh.

If you have a hard time …

Replace Lost or Damaged Food

People can request replacement benefits for food that they bought using CalFresh and that they lost or had damaged in an emergency such as fire, natural disaster, power outages, etc. A form must be submitted within 10 days of the end of an event, such as a power outage. Sometimes counties extend the deadline beyond 10 days.

To Apply for Replacement Benefits

Complete and submit Replacement or Disaster Supplement Affidavit (CF 303) to apply for CalFresh replacement benefits after disaster.

• In person - Nevada County Department of Social Services suggests that people come in person to a DSS office for most efficient service.
• Online - at BenefitsCal.com
• Fax completed form to 530-265-9860

Forms

• English CF 303 form
• Spanish CF 303 form

Locations

Grass Valley - Brighton Greens
988 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, CA 95949
530-265-1340

Nevada City - Eric Rood Administrative Center
950 Maidu Ave, Suite 120, Nevada City, CA 95959
530-265-1340

Truckee - Nevada County Joseph Center
10075 L…

Drop-in benefits information and application assistance is provided by the Navigator team from the Nevada County Department of Social Services at three libraries each month. Stop by if you need help enrolling in, or renewing your participation in, benefits programs such as

• Cash Assistance - CalWORKs & more
• Food Assistance - CalFresh
• Healthcare - Medi-Cal
• Housing
• In-Home Supportive Services
• Veterans Services

While these resources are always available to the public, having them all together during the Services Drop-In allows you to learn, at the same meeting, such things as what kind of support is available for seniors, how you can proceed with child support, and which doctors take your insurance. These are drop-in services and no appointment is necessary.

Social Services Drop-In days and locations

• Grass Valley Library, 207 Mill St, Grass Valley, CA 95945, 530-273-4117
  • First Tuesdays, 10:30am-12:30pm
  • First Saturdays, 10am-2pm
• Madelyn Helling Library, 980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA 95959,…

2024 CalFresh Market Money (also known as Market Match) runs June 1 - Nov 23, 2024.

Spend CalFresh dollars at Western Nevada County Farmers Markets and receive up to a $10 match per market every week. Come to the Farmers Market Manager's booth, show EBT card and photo ID (must be a Nevada County resident), then Market Match tokens will be given to match EBT purchases (up to $10). Tokens can be used to buy qualified foods at participating farm stands. Market Match will be available at the TUESDAY and SATURDAY markets. See times and locations below.

Market Money can be used June 1 - Nov 23, 2024. Dates below are for the entire farmers market summer and fall season. Market Money tokens cannot be obtained or used after Nov 23, 2024.

2024 Farmers Markets offering this program:

GRASS VALLEY - SATURDAY MARKET

• April 20 – Nov 23, 2024 from 8am-12:30pm
• Pine Creek Shopping Center – in front of JCPenney,732 Freeman Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949

GRASS VALLEY - TUESDAY MARKET

• May 7 – September 10, 2024 from…

This resource is eligible for electronic referral.

Meals on Wheels provides qualified home-bound seniors over the age of 60 with nutritious lunches. Must be enrolled in the Meals on Wheels program. Delivery is on Tuesdays & Thursdays (no deliveries on weekends, major holidays or when roads are unsafe to travel). Gold Country Senior Services oversees the Meals on Wheels program in Western Nevada County (Alta Sierra, Grass Valley, Lake of the Pines, Lake Wildwood, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, etc).*

Meals on Wheels clients can apply to the Pet Food Pantry Program through their case worker. The purpose of the Pet Food Pantry Program is to keep seniors and their pets together by reducing pet expenses.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.goldcountryservices.org/meals-on-wheels/
  
  

* For North San Juan / San Juan Ridge call Sue Bauer at 530-292-9525. See database program: MEALS ON WHEELS-NORTH SAN JUAN - GCSS

Interfaith Food Ministry provides food that does not require warming or refrigeration to persons who are homeless. Food can be picked up once a week during regularly scheduled food pantry pickup hours.

Open every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-1pm and every Saturday from 10am-12pm.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.interfaithfoodministry.org/
  
  

This is a Ready to Grow (R2G) resource. Ready to Grow is a First 5 Nevada County program to connect children 0-5 with services and information that support their well-being. Organizations with programs that have this R2G tag may have additional programs of interest to families.

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program offers a nutrition, breastfeeding and health education service that helps pregnant women, mothers with new babies, and young children, under age 5 years, eat well and stay healthy. Families receive checks to purchase nutritious foods at grocery stores. Legal guardians such as fathers, foster parents, and grandparents can receive checks on behalf of children.

This is one of many possible First 5 Nevada County Ready to Grow (R2G) program resources.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/867/Women-Infants-Children-Program

Meals on Wheels is a service that provides meals for qualified home-bound seniors over the age of 60 in North San Juan / San Juan Ridge with nutritious lunches. Call Sue Bauer at 530-292-9525 for pick-up times and information.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.goldcountryservices.org/meals-on-wheels/

Seniors First offers Meals on Wheels and Senior Cafes.

Meals on Wheels

​A service designed to help Older Adults Age in Place by targeting people who are home alone during the day and who have difficulty preparing simple meals. For clients who need the service temporarily.

Eligibility

At the time services are provided, clients shall be:

• 60 years of age or older, sufficiently functionally impaired and homebound; or,
• The spouse, of any age, of an eligible client; or,
• A person with a disability (of any age) who lives with an eligible client.

Senior Cafés

​The Senior Cafés program provides a hot, healthy lunch five days a week to seniors age 60 at over eight Senior Café locations throughout Placer County including Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin and Roseville. The Senior Cafés are lively gathering places that help maintain clients' sense of community and connectedness.

Cost

​Meals are provided for a small optional contribution. No one is ever turned away for lack of financial resources.

There is a suggeste…

Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center, with locations in
Lincoln, Roseville, Rocklin, and Auburn, provides free or low cost counseling services to Placer County residents. Available in English and Spanish. All ages.

Counseling

Types of Counseling

• Individual, couples, and family counseling
• Group Therapy Counseling

Counseling Eligibility and Insurance

• Eligibility - Placer County residents only.
• Insurance accepted as follows:
  • Medi-Cal - Medi-Cal Managed Care - Partnership HealthPlan of California through Carelon
  • Private health insurance
    • Blue Shield of California
    • Cigna
    • Magellan
    • Tricare
    • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Family Resource Center Services

Case Management

• Family Resource Center ​(FRC) staff provide advocacy, goal setting, and wellness recommendations to clients in need of support managing a difficult family situation. The majority of clients in need are referred to Lighthouse by social workers, probation officers, or other community-based organi…