There are issues that transcend politics and should unite us as a community. Ensuring our most vulnerable – children, seniors, people with disabilities, low-income working parents – have access to food is one of them.

In Los Angeles County, one of the most resource-rich counties in the nation, far too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on the table. More than half of families in the county are dealing with food insecurity. And now, the ongoing federal shutdown has led to critical cuts to a food assistance program that millions of Americans rely on.

As the chief executive of the nation’s largest publicly-operated health plan, serving more than 2.6 million individuals in L.A. County, I have seen firsthand how hunger is a health issue – not just a food issue. Families who lack consistent access to nutritious meals face higher rates of chronic disease, weaker immune systems, developmental delays among children and elevated stress and anxiety among parents. Research shows food insecurity is associated with increased odds of depression and anxiety. Among children, it is tied to lower academic performance and worse health outcomes.

In California, roughly 5.5 million people participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known here as CalFresh, on a monthly basis. Although recent lawsuits require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use emergency funds to provide partial SNAP payments for November, it could take weeks to months for states to implement the system changes needed to distribute the reduced benefits.

Additionally, these wise judicial decisions spurred by a cadre of courageous states provide only a temporary respite. It does not restore the full funding stream for SNAP or eliminate the ripple-effects of delays. It also does not erase the anxiety for millions of families wondering if or when their benefits will arrive. Food banks across the country are reporting surging demand even before the benefits were set to lapse.

Moment ‘demands action’

If even a portion of the 1.5 million CalFresh recipients in L.A. County alone face delays or cuts, the impact on schools, health systems and community services will be severe.

This moment demands action from each of us. Public agencies, businesses, health systems, schools, faith-based organizations and individuals all have a role to play. Whether you donate funds, volunteer at a local food bank, coordinate a food-drive, or simply support a neighbor in need – every act of generosity matters. Even small efforts help keep a child in class, a parent from skipping meals, a senior from going to bed hungry.

At L.A. Care Health Plan, we are taking that call to action to heart. This November we have declared a “Month of Action,” encouraging our employees and partners to volunteer their time and resources to support those most affected by this funding lapse. We have pledged up to $5.4 million in nutrition support to local organizations working to fill immediate gaps, including the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and Food Forward. Additionally, our L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers are providing food assistance resources to community members, including grocery gift cards, while supplies last.

But this moment calls for even more: partnership, solidarity and collective care. We’ve seen how one organization’s commitment can spark others to join in – and we invite every business, agency and civic group in L.A. County to do the same.

As you prepare for the holiday season, remember that the best gift we can give is food, dignity and hope. Encourage your company to sponsor a food-distribution event. Ask your team to volunteer for a few hours. Support organizations that are already stepping in while federal funding remains uncertain. When we come together, our collective strength can transform stories of hardship into stories of resilience and renewal.

Let’s not let gridlock in Washington leave our families with an empty plate. This season let’s renew our commitment to one another and to the community we all share – and act now so that no one in L.A. County goes without food.

Martha Santana-Chin is the chief executive of L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the nation serving more than 2.6 million Angelenos.