Millions of people in the US are about to lose food assistance as SNAP benefits run out amid the government shutdown. Here are a few ways you can help.
As of November 1, almost 42 million people in the United States—one in eight Americans—will lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. It is the first time that America’s largest anti-hunger program—established in 1964—has been so severely disrupted, halted for the first time in history.
The United States is now facing an unprecedented public health crisis of food insecurity and hunger. SNAP is funded by the federal government via the Farm Bill, with each state responsible for distributing benefits to eligible residents. To qualify, a household’s gross monthly income must sit at or below 130% of the poverty line. According to the most up-to-date USDA data, 30% of recipients are children, 20% are elderly, and 10% are individuals with disabilities. SNAP spending in 2024 totaled $99.8 billion, with recipients receiving around $187 a month in benefits. A family of four, on average, receives $715 per month, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities—equivalent to a little less than $6 per person per day. “The well has run dry,” as the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees SNAP, put it. The Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful” tax and spending bill had already significantly cut SNAP. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition homepage currently features a message falsely accusing “Radical Left” Senate Democrats of shutting down the government to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants and transgender Americans. The US government shutdown is entering its fifth week—now the second-longest shutdown in history—and the program will remain suspended until Congress reopens the government. Two dozen states have sued in a bid to force the program to continue , and some have pledged their own funds to bridge the gap . SNAP’s expiration comes at a time of major tension between Republicans and Democrats, while the public continues to contend with other brutal cuts to federal programs and aid. Millions of vulnerable people are expected to fall into dire food insecurity and face a serious risk of hunger. Colder months are setting in across many states, and with the holidays approaching—meaning kids out of school—the situation feels even more concerning. Below are some ways to help people losing their SNAP benefits, wherever you are. Call your representative Call your lawmakers and demand that they take action now. 5 Calls is an organization that provides accessible scripts for making clear demands of your representatives over the phone—they have a helpful script for asking your governor to advocate for basic food assistance, plus a table with state-specific data on how many people rely on SNAP in your area. Use this official government database to find your representative. Feeding America also provides an email script format. Donate food and resources to your local food bank Many food banks right now will benefit most from monetary donations, so provide cash if you can. Food banks and pantries can then decide what they specifically need and buy food in bulk or at discounted rates, making your donation go even further. You can find a food bank, soup kitchen, or food pantry in your local area using Find Help or Feeding America’s directories. Check Charity Watch and GuideStar to confirm an organization’s charity or nonprofit status. Food banks can also accept other household essentials like diapers, laundry detergent, and period products—necessities that aren’t covered by SNAP. Get in touch with your local organization to see what they need most. Donate to other food and resource programs There are many wider hunger relief programs that also need support. Senior programs include monthly food box deliveries and home delivery services like Meals on Wheels, which helps seniors in all US states. BackPack programs provide children with free, easy-to-make meals for weekends and school breaks, while Kids Cafes offer meals for children after school, on weekends, and during school breaks—along with fun activities and tutoring. Free Formula Exchange is another vital mutual aid network connecting families in need of baby formula with those who have formula to donate. Volunteer Your time is valuable—and many food banks offer one-time or flexible volunteer shifts. Volunteering at a food bank could involve sorting donations, packing and distributing meals, staffing the floor, or coordinating intake. FoodFinder is a free resource that connects people to food banks and pantries nationwide—consult its directory and reach out to local organizations to volunteer. BackPack programs rely on regular volunteers who pack backpacks, set up distributions, and hand out meals to students, as do Kids Cafes, where people are needed to set up, serve food, and lead activities. Consult the Mutual Aid Hub to find an active group and ask how you can help locally. Organize a meal train or food drive This is especially helpful for people who are unable to physically visit food banks—whether they’re elderly, disabled, working, or without transportation. Organize a meal train in your local area for someone in need: ask about their preferences or dietary restrictions, and create a sign-up sheet with friends or neighbors to pitch in. You can also organize a food drive through your workplace, school, church, or community group to donate to local food banks and pantries. The Emergency Food Network lists the most requested food items—you can theme your drive accordingly. You might also check Freedge to start a community fridge in your neighborhood. Become a grocery buddy Search your local community groups on social media or public forums and offer to go shopping with someone losing their SNAP benefits and pay for their groceries. If you’re not able to do it in person, offer cash, a gift card, or a peer-to-peer payment transfer like Venmo. Share initiatives and short-term solutions Several food delivery platforms have announced their own responses. DoorDash, through Project DASH and in partnership with Feeding America food bank partners, will deliver one million free meals through November. DoorDash will also waive delivery and service fees on 300,000 grocery orders for SNAP recipients ordering from Sprouts, Dollar General, Schnucks, Food Lion, Giant Foods, The GIANT Company, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle, and Wegmans. To help people access groceries amid this gap in aid, GoPuff is offering $50 in credit for SNAP-eligible goods , committing up to $10 million in total relief. There are more details on how to access that here.
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