The U.S. government has been shut down since October 1, 2025, meaning government services are temporarily suspended, with over a million federal employees on unpaid leave or working without pay. While the country is no stranger to government shutdowns (there have been four in the 2000s), the current shutdown is the second-longest on record. But there’s something different happening with the current shutdown. While past shutdowns have paused SNAP benefits, the government has always been able to use contingency funds to ensure recipients can still receive the assistance. However, that is not the case with this shutdown. So today, November 1, the SNAP benefits program is temporarily paused. Here’s what to know and how to help your community right now.
What are SNAP benefits?
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the U.S. federal government’s primary anti-hunger assistance program. It’s a federally funded program administered in partnership with states, with the purpose of providing monthly benefits to low-income households to help them buy groceries.
The benefit is typically delivered via Electronic Benefit Card (EBT) and functions like a debit card for approved food purchases, so people can purchase the foods they need for their household. SNAP recipients receive an average of $187 a month, per CBS News.
What is happening to SNAP benefits?
Unfortunately, this life-saving benefit is about to face an immediate disruption. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that, due to the government shutdown, it will not issue federally funded SNAP benefits for November.
The effects of this were immediate, with states like Nebraska pausing SNAP benefits starting October 29 for nearly 150,000 recipients.
During past shutdowns, the USDA has been able to use contingency funds to disburse benefits early, something the current USDA stated in a memo that they “are not legally available to cover regular benefits.” On October 31, a Rhode Island federal judge ruled that the administration needs to continue paying for food stamps during the government shutdown. However, at the time of this publication, it’s unclear when the money may actually reach those who receive benefits. And, according to CNN, it also remains unclear, “whether they’ll receive their full benefits or a smaller amount since the US Department of Agriculture’s contingency fund doesn’t have enough money to cover the total cost.”
How to help your community during the SNAP pause
In 2024, nearly 42 million Americans relied on SNAP to afford groceries and receive food assistance—many of those recipients were children. As the impending pause has gotten closer, I’ve felt helpless watching stories of parents who will go hungry so their children can eat, or those who are already working two jobs looking to pick up a third to put food on the table.
I acknowledge I am in an incredibly privileged position, as I sit here looking for ways to help those affected, as opposed to being affected myself. But that’s why I truly believe everyone who is in a position to help can find a way to do so. These are just a few ways you can help your community to mitigate the impact of the SNAP benefits pause.
Stay involved locally
There are many ways to help your local community. Feeding America has a useful resource to help find your nearest food banks with their current needs. While food can be a helpful donation, what can really get the most food to food banks is a monetary donation. Many food banks can purchase food in bulk for a much lower price than you’d be able to buy it at the grocery store. For that reason, your money can go further in purchasing more essentials than bringing in just food.
Feeding America also allows you to sign up as a volunteer for your local food bank. With larger numbers expected, these locations can use the extra hands to distribute food to those who need it!
A quick Google search can also find food drives in your area. When I searched “food drives near me,” I instantly got a handful of results for ongoing food drives along with priority items to donate.
You can also find local resources for food assistance. On my town’s government website, there’s a Meal Assistance page that provides a full list of resources for food assistance.
Donate to programs that can help
Along with Feeding America, many other nationwide programs could use your donation, whether it’s money, food, or your time. Here are some places to consider:
- Feeding America
- U.S. Hunger
- No Kid Hungry
- Midwest Food Bank
- The Global FoodBanking Network
- The L.A. Food Bank
- Food Bank for New York City
- The Farmlink Project
For specific needs, such as baby formula, brands have also announced ways to help. ByHeart started the ByHeart Emergency Relief Program, providing three months of free formula to families affected by the shutdown (you can apply here). Bobbie is also allowing customers to donate cans for a fraction of the regular price, which they will be donating to SNAP-impacted communities across the country.
Assist SNAP households directly
There are also a few different ways you can assist directly. You may have seen on social media the concept of grocery buddies, where those looking for assistance to find a grocery solution can ask for help through social media in community groups. This assistance can look different based on the pairing: your grocery buddy can shop with you, shop for you, or provide gift cards—whatever makes the most sense for both parties. Wondering how to find a grocery buddy? Check your community’s Facebook group, or through local groups on forums like Reddit.
Your children’s school can also be a resource. One team member at The Everymom emailed her principal, school social worker, and head of PTO. Together with other parents, they’re getting a bunch of $25 grocery gift cards that the school social worker can distribute to families who need them. The process is easy to put together and allows those who need food assistance to privately ask for help without anyone else needing to know where the gift cards are going.
The sad truth is that many SNAP recipients can feel judged or shamed for using benefits to help feed themselves and their families, so being able to offer assistance in a private, anonymous way can be another way to help.
Stay engaged and raise awareness
Another way to give is through your time. Raising awareness and staying informed and engaged are vitally important. Knowing what is happening in your community is the best way to be helpful to your community, and the reason grassroots organizing, such as grocery buddies, exists.
Monitor updates from USDA and your state’s SNAP office; these situations evolve, and relief or contingency funding may be announced. And call your local elected officials to allocate emergency state funds, if possible (something some states, like New York, have already announced they will do).
At this time, it’s unknown if the government will “backpay” the benefits once the shutdown has ended, which could mean some families will still be in need of food once benefits are reinstated. Staying informed on the state of things is the first step in helping those who need it most.
Morgan Flaherty, Contributing Writer
Morgan is full-time writer, editor, and mom. She lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and one very sassy cat. Along with her work as a contributing writer for The Everymom, her writing has appeared in Well + Good, InStyle, Scary Mommy, Byrdie, and Baby Chick.
