Neighbors In Uniform

Serving the community that shaped them

U.S. Army Spc. Angel Guadalupe Sanchez-Diaz, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, prepares food kits in support of the Community Action Partnership of Kern food drive in Bakersfield, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025. The Cal Guard was activated by the governor of California to support food banks in packaging and distributing food to families and individuals at risk of food insecurities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

U.S. Army Spc. Angel Guadalupe Sanchez-Diaz, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, prepares food kits in support of the Community Action Partnership of Kern food drive in Bakersfield, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025. The Cal Guard was activated by the governor of California to support food banks in packaging and distributing food to families and individuals at risk of food insecurities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Story by Capt. Gabriela Ramirez
Photos and Video by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa
California Army National Guard Public Affairs

Dec. 1, 2025

LOS ANGELES – The chill of worry and hunger cast a shadow over thousands of California families during the historic government shutdown, but help arrived in uniform. As the state’s food banks braced for overwhelming need, California National Guard members stepped forward—ready to serve the very communities that raised them.

“I’m expediting state funds for food banks and directing the California National Guard and California Volunteers to help distribute this food to families. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, California is working to ensure CalFresh recipients don’t go hungry while food prices are spiking…” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a press release on Oct. 22, 2025.

On October 23, 2025, the California Army National Guard was activated to support food banks statewide as the longest-running government shutdown disrupted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits for millions of Americans. CalGuard members were eager to volunteer and give back.

“That’s why I joined. Despite the uniform, I’m still part of this community, and I want to give back in any way I can.”
Spc. Jazmine Contreras

As U.S. Army Spc. Jazmine Contreras, a signal operations support specialist (25U) with the 240th Signal Company, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade shared, “That’s why I joined. Despite the uniform, I’m still part of this community, and I want to give back in any way I can.”

Service members of the 40th Division Sustainment Brigade answered the call to support various food banks from Sacramento to San Diego. They partnered daily with community organizations and county officials as food banks braced for an influx of families facing food insecurity. For many Soldiers, this humanitarian mission was an opportunity to reconnect with what it means to be a part of a community—helping others when help is needed most.

Each day, service members were the first to arrive at their assigned food banks. They sorted produce, built food kits, palletized supplies, organized warehouse inventory and distributed resources in the community. No task was too large or too small. They knew the food banks were in need of additional support and the guard was there to share some of that weight.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mickal Mendoza, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, loads food kits into a recipient’s vehicle during the Community Action Partnership of Kern food drive in Bakersfield, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025. The Cal Guard was activated by the governor of California to support food banks in packaging and distributing food to families and individuals at risk of food insecurities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mickal Mendoza, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, loads food kits into a recipient’s vehicle during the Community Action Partnership of Kern food drive in Bakersfield, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025. The Cal Guard was activated by the governor of California to support food banks in packaging and distributing food to families and individuals at risk of food insecurities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Kelly Lowery, Community Action Partnership of Kern, speaks to service members of the California Army National Guard before commencing food drive operations at Bakersfield, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Kelly Lowery, Community Action Partnership of Kern, speaks to service members of the California Army National Guard before commencing food drive operations at Bakersfield, Calif., Nov. 3, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

California Army National Guard service members helps FIND Food Bank assemble food kits, completing the 100th with community volunteers at Indio, Calif., Nov. 10, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

California Army National Guard service members helps FIND Food Bank assemble food kits, completing the 100th with community volunteers at Indio, Calif., Nov. 10, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Command Sgt. Maj. Claudia P. Ramirez, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade Command Sergeant Major, is given a tour around the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 22, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Command Sgt. Maj. Claudia P. Ramirez, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade Command Sergeant Major, is given a tour around the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 22, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Command Sgt. Maj. Claudia P. Ramirez, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade Command Sergeant Major, is shown food kits prepared by California National Guard service members ready to be distributed at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 22, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Command Sgt. Maj. Claudia P. Ramirez, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade Command Sergeant Major, is shown food kits prepared by California National Guard service members ready to be distributed at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 22, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

At distribution sites in Bakersfield and Indio, some community members waited in long lines, uncertain of what to expect. But as they approached Soldiers—whether in their vehicles or on foot—relief quickly replaced fear. Within a brief 30-second interaction, families received the food they needed. Gratitude followed. “Thank you for your service!” and “God bless you!” echoed from car windows as people drove away. With a heartfelt desire to serve, and the ability to communicate in various languages when needed, soldiers offered comfort and reassurance, reminding the community—and themselves—that they belonged to each other.

Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), an organization whose mission is to increase access to healthy, affordable food, served more than 12,000 additional families with support from the Guard and California Volunteers.

“We couldn’t have done that work without the partnership we have with the California National Guard and Cal Volunteers. I was very proud to work alongside them,” said Kelly Lowery, a food bank administrator with CAPK.

The feeling was mutual for Guard members across the state. As Sgt. 1st Class Gonzalo Aldape packaged shelf stable goods at Food In Need of Distribution (FIND) food bank in Indio, Calif., he gauges how he felt on day 21 of this mission. “This is a very rewarding feeling, to work with the civilian population distributing food, there’s honestly no greater mission than what we are doing right now.”

Giving back and assisting his community during this mission was personal for Sgt. Gerardo Ramirez, a motor transport operator (88M) with the 1072nd Transportation Company, 40th DSB. “My dad was working the fields, and my ma, and we didn’t have food sometimes and we would go to food banks or churches, and they would always help us out.”

Although this humanitarian mission has ended, the fight against food insecurity continues. Together, service members of the 40th DSB helped process and distribute more than 7.9 million pounds of food—equivalent to 6.65 million meals—reaching approximately 662,000 Californians. After 38 days across 9 food banks, 77 service members of the California National Guard helped make great strides during these difficult times.

“The California Military Department, under the direction of the Governor’s Office, is proud to support food bank operations across the state,” said Maj. Gen. Matthew P. Beevers, the adjutant general of the California National Guard. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cal Guard service members played a crucial role in this effort, and they are honored to serve their communities once again.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Claudia P. Ramirez, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade Command Sergeant Major, greets service members helping prepare food kits at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 22, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

Command Sgt. Maj. Claudia P. Ramirez, 40th Division Sustainment Brigade Command Sergeant Major, greets service members helping prepare food kits at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at City of Industry, Calif., Nov. 22, 2025. Service members activated under Emergency State Active Duty assist with packaging food for distribution to individuals and families facing food insecurity. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. William Franco Espinosa)

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