With the government shut down, many Americans are scrambling to put contingency plans in place. These include some government employees (including some military members and civilian contractors), veterans who may see benefits cut, and, this time around, families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Though there’s a contingency fund intended to cover SNAP in such situations, the USDA announced at the end of October that it wouldn’t be used, meaning that families learned with only a few days’ notice that they wouldn’t receive benefits to cover food.
Fortunately, communities stepped up in many ways, with individuals and businesses making extra efforts to help. Now the USDA has issued a warning to some of those businesses, but there is still hope.
Small Businesses Stepped Up
While many chain stores increased their donations to food banks, small businesses have stepped up in ways with a more direct connection to their customers and communities.
Some small grocery shops offered discounts to their SNAP customers. Restaurants and diners in towns across America offered free, discounted, or pay-what-you-can meals. In my town, I saw a local baker offer pay-what-you-can prices on birthday cakes, saying that she didn’t want anyone to be unable to celebrate a milestone because of the shutdown. In the town where I grew up, the owners of one restaurant made pans of baked ziti to give out to anyone who asked.
This doesn’t just apply to small towns, either. Heretic Coffee, in Portland, began feeding SNAP families, raising funds to provide free meals.
Grocery Companies Offered Discounts, Only To Be Warned Off
Some grocery shops, farmers’ markets, and other businesses also found ways to step up.
Many states have implemented programs to make SNAP benefits stretch further when they’re used at farmers’ markets or on produce at certain other venues. The idea is that these programs benefit small farmers and help encourage SNAP recipients to choose healthy options.
The Farm Alliance of Baltimore is one of the organizations that decided to continue that benefit, even with SNAP off the table, announcing that SNAP recipients could purchase some products at half-price as November began. Some grocery retailers offered similar programs, and Instacart offered a half-price grocery order for SNAP recipients.
Then, Civil Eats reports, the USDA issued a warning.
Legislation exists to prevent discrimination against SNAP recipients. Stores can’t charge a SNAP customer more than they charge a cash customer. However, the USDA warned that this would also be implemented in reverse: stores could not offer discounts to SNAP customers.
Some Stores Backed Down, But Hope & Help Continue
Many retailers were forced to back down and retract their offered discounts in light of the USDA warning.
Others, however, are holding the line.
The Farm Alliance of Baltimore, for instance, accepted that offering discounts only to SNAP recipients was off the table, so they opened the first day of November with a half-off discount available to every customer. The response? Those who could still pay full price, and reportedly also added donations to ensure that their communities would be fed.
Instacart continues its half-price order promotion, since the company applied for and received the necessary special permissions to do so.
Now, some states have issued partial or complete benefits for November, and others are beginning to do so. (Some are still holding out until either the government shutdown ends or they are ordered to issue benefits.)
However, as many community members are still struggling, whether due to the SNAP shortfall, withheld paychecks, or just inflation, individuals and businesses are continuing to step up where possible, whether through donations to food banks, support for blessing boxes or local food kitchens, or direct assistance.
Where You Can Turn If You’re In Need
SNAP provides food assistance to many foster families, individuals with disabilities, elderly individuals who are unable to work, college students, and millions of children.
If you need food, you can always dial 211 for assistance finding resources. This United Way hotline or website will help you find your local food banks and may have access to lists of churches or other community organizations that can assist.
They can also connect you to resources for housing, mental health, and other crises.
You can also check out Feeding America’s food bank locator. Type in your zip code, and the site will provide a list of local resources, including food pantries, free meals, and locations offering holiday meal boxes.
In many locations, your local health department or social services office will have fliers or lists of these resources.