ON WHAT PEOPLE IN ROSEVILLE ARE DOING TO MEET THAT NEED. AS A PERSON LIVING WITH CELIAC DISEASE. STEPHANIE HOUSTON’S QUEST FOR GLUTEN FREE FOOD TURNED INTO A BUSINESS. I COULD BAKE. I’M PRETTY GOOD AT BAKING. I COULD DO THAT. AND AS A MEMBER OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN ROSEVILLE, SHE FINDS A WAY TO HELP OTHERS DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. THE FOOD BANKS DON’T REALLY HAVE MUCH RIGHT NOW, AND THAT’S WHAT I’M HEARING, IS THAT THERE ISN’T AN OPTION FOR GLUTEN FREE. SO WE FIGURED I CAN SCALE UP, I CAN MAKE MORE BREAD, I SELL BREAD EVERY WEEK AT JUST GLUTEN FREE KITCHENS. NOW, GIVING AWAY A LOAF OF BREAD TO FOLKS WHO DEPEND ON CALFRESH. IT’S JUST NOT RIGHT. THAT’S ALL. AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR. WE’RE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. ARE YOU READY FOR A BURRITO? VOLUNTEERS ARE SERVING UP FREE WARM MEALS. HI THERE AT SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL DINING ROOM, WE SEE THE IMPACT EVERY DAY. THE NEED FOR HELP IN ROSEVILLE WAS ALREADY CLEAR. HELP YOURSELF TO A PIECE OF PIE. EVEN BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PUT FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS LIKE CALFRESH ON PAUSE. IT SADDENS ME. AND I YOU KNOW, WE DO WHAT WE CAN HERE IN OTHER PLACES THROUGH FOOD VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TO DO WHAT WE CAN. TERRY GARRISON, ALSO SERVING UP LOVE AND A PRAYER TO GET FOLKS THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD. IF EVERYBODY STEPPED UP AND DID JUST A LITTLE BIT, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY. THANK YOU. IN ROSEVILLE MICHELLE BANDUR KCRA THREE NEWS. OTHER ROSEVILLE BUSINESSES ARE ALSO OFFERING HELP. HIDDEN COFFEE IS GIVING AWAY FREE COFFE
Roseville small businesses step up to help those losing federal food benefits during government shutdown
Updated: 7:16 PM PST Nov 5, 2025
Editorial Standards
The government shutdown is affecting many in Roseville, prompting local businesses and volunteers to provide food and support to those impacted by halted federal benefits.Feeding the Foothills, a food bank serving over 50,000 people in Placer, El Dorado, and Nevada counties, is witnessing an increased demand for assistance as federal programs, such as CalFresh, are paused. On a rainy Wednesday, St. Vincent de Paul’s dining room offered free warm meals to those in need. “We have bean and meat burritos with beans on the side, coleslaw, and pie today,” said Terry Garrison. She volunteers to serve the food and noted the gratitude of those receiving meals. “These people are so gracious and so thankful,” Garrison said.Even before the shutdown, the need for help in Roseville was evident. “We see the impact every day,” Garrison said. “It saddens me. We do what we can here in other places through food volunteer programs, to do what we can.”Inspired by other local businesses, Stephanie Houston of Just Gluten Free Kitchens decided to contribute by baking. “I could bake. I’m pretty good at baking. I can do that,” Houston said. She doubled her bread recipes to provide gluten-free options, which are scarce at food banks. “The food banks don’t really have much right now. What I’m hearing is that there isn’t an option for gluten-free. So we figured I can scale up, I can make more bread. I sell bread every week,” she said. Houston is now giving away loaves of bread to those dependent on CalFresh.”It’s just not right, that’s all. And that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve the community,” she said.Back at lunch, Garrison continued to serve meals with love and prayers, believing that collective small efforts can make a significant impact. “If everybody stepped up and did just a little bit, it would go a long way,” she said.More businesses are joining the effort, including Hidden Coffee, which offers free coffee and pastries to those on CalFresh. Free lunches are available five days a week, and Feeding the Foothills has multiple food distribution sites across the three counties of Placer, El Dorado and Nevada.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The government shutdown is affecting many in Roseville, prompting local businesses and volunteers to provide food and support to those impacted by halted federal benefits.
Feeding the Foothills, a food bank serving over 50,000 people in Placer, El Dorado, and Nevada counties, is witnessing an increased demand for assistance as federal programs, such as CalFresh, are paused.
On a rainy Wednesday, St. Vincent de Paul’s dining room offered free warm meals to those in need.
“We have bean and meat burritos with beans on the side, coleslaw, and pie today,” said Terry Garrison. She volunteers to serve the food and noted the gratitude of those receiving meals.
“These people are so gracious and so thankful,” Garrison said.
Even before the shutdown, the need for help in Roseville was evident.
“We see the impact every day,” Garrison said. “It saddens me. We do what we can here in other places through food volunteer programs, to do what we can.”
Inspired by other local businesses, Stephanie Houston of Just Gluten Free Kitchens decided to contribute by baking.
“I could bake. I’m pretty good at baking. I can do that,” Houston said.
She doubled her bread recipes to provide gluten-free options, which are scarce at food banks.
“The food banks don’t really have much right now. What I’m hearing is that there isn’t an option for gluten-free. So we figured I can scale up, I can make more bread. I sell bread every week,” she said.
Houston is now giving away loaves of bread to those dependent on CalFresh.
“It’s just not right, that’s all. And that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve the community,” she said.
Back at lunch, Garrison continued to serve meals with love and prayers, believing that collective small efforts can make a significant impact.
“If everybody stepped up and did just a little bit, it would go a long way,” she said.
More businesses are joining the effort, including Hidden Coffee, which offers free coffee and pastries to those on CalFresh. Free lunches are available five days a week, and Feeding the Foothills has multiple food distribution sites across the three counties of Placer, El Dorado and Nevada.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
