County to Double Food Distribution Sites, Add Six Locations This Winter

The County is planning to double its Safety Net Bridge food distribution sites, adding six new locations this winter in what officials described as "high-need, data-identified zip codes."

The new sites anticipated to open include Lemon Grove, Mountain Empire, National City, San Ysidro and Southeastern San Diego, with additional locations already in discussion for 2027, according to the County News Center.

The Safety Net Bridge program, operated in partnership with the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego, connects households with nutritious food and other supports. Between Aug. 8 and Oct. 10, the program served more than 2,400 households across 16 events.

Several locations now also offer vaccinations, behavioral health connections, housing resources and services for seniors and families, letting residents get multiple types of support in one place.

County staff said the expansion responds to real-time data showing increasing demand for food and benefits assistance — and comes as more residents face federal benefits reductions. Since June, about 2,200 people in San Diego County lost food benefits because of recently re-implemented federal work requirements, the County said. Of more than 37,000 people up for renewal during that period, nearly 8,000 did not complete their renewal paperwork, and just over 1,500 non-citizens were discontinued under new federal eligibility rules or incomplete renewals.

The Safety Net Bridge program is one of several County efforts to help residents navigate federal benefits changes. Additional resources are available through the County's Federal Impacts Assistance Hub.