As federal operations resume after the recent congressional deadlock, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are being distributed once more. However, food resource groups in the central U.S. anticipate that the demand will persist throughout the holiday period.
According to Beth Corbett from the Central Texas Food Bank, individuals affected by the shutdown have resorted to increasing their debt or dipping into their savings. She notes that the demand usually rises during November and December, and this year is expected to see even greater need.
“Those types of financial disruptions don’t just go away when the government reopens,” Corbett stated. “We certainly expect a sustained and lingering impact for the months ahead.”
A 300% increase
Oklahoma and Texas rank among the most food-insecure states in the United States.
Corbett mentioned that numerous families might have accessed food pantries for the first time during the shutdown.
“We’re seeing at minimum, really in these last couple of weeks, a 50% increase in folks accessing our distributions,” Corbett reported. “Some sites we’ve seen up to a 300% increase.”
The food bank, which covers a 21-county area, services approximately 47,000 federal employees and around 270,000 SNAP recipients, according to Corbett.
Prior to the government shutdown, the bank’s monthly expenditure on food purchases was about $1.3 million, in addition to donations. During the shutdown, spending surged to $1 million per week.
Corbett explained that the heightened demand complicated fundraising and sourcing efforts because similar challenges were faced by all food banks nationwide. The organization had to purchase items they typically wouldn’t, such as milk and eggs, to fulfill the increased needs.
Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank in Texas, noted that the shutdown exacerbated an already challenging year, further depleting the bank’s resources.
He explained that federal budget cuts earlier in the year had reduced their food supply, and they also had to meet new demands following the devastating Hill Country floods over the summer.
“I think we’re doing all we can,” Cooper remarked. “The shutdown has brought this crazy uncertainty, but our community has certainly delivered.”
Cooper observed an uptick in donations recently, and volunteer numbers increased from 2,000 to nearly 3,000. This additional support enabled the bank to add more distribution time slots, although rationing was still necessary.
Instead of distributing a week’s supply of food, the bank provided enough for roughly three to five days, according to Cooper.
