LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — People across the country formed long lines for free meals and groceries at food pantries and drive-through giveaways Saturday, after monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were suddenly cut off because of the ongoing government shutdown.
In the New York borough of the Bronx, about 200 more people than usual showed up at the World of Life Christian Fellowship International pantry, many bundled in winter hats and coats and pushing collapsible shopping carts as they waited in a line that spanned multiple city blocks. Some arrived as early as 4 a.m. to choose from pallets of fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, juice, dry goods, and prepared sandwiches.
Mary Martin, who volunteers at the pantry, also relies on it regularly for food to supplement her SNAP payments. She said she usually splits her roughly $200 a month in SNAP benefits between herself and her two adult sons, one of whom has six children and is especially dependent on the assistance.
'If I didn’t have the pantry to come to, I don’t know how we would make it,' Martin said.
The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold payments to the food program starting Saturday, until two federal judges ordered the administration to make them. However, it was unclear when the debit cards that beneficiaries use would be reloaded after the ruling, sparking fear and confusion among many recipients.
In Austell, Georgia, hundreds of cars picked up food at drive-through lanes, with Must Ministries reporting they distributed food to about 1,000 people, exceeding their typical bimonthly deliveries. Families expressed concerns about receiving SNAP benefits in time for Thanksgiving, with many like 74-year-old SNAP recipient James Jackson voicing frustration about the impacts of government decisions on their lives.
'If you’ve never been poor, you don’t know what it is to be poor,' Jackson said. 'I hope that it turns around. I hope that people get their SNAP benefits, and I hope we just come together where we can love each other and feed each other and help each other.'
The pantry demand is no longer just for the poor or elderly; it includes 'people from all walks of life,' as noted by Rev. John Udo-Okon of the Bronx pantry. This demonstrates the reach of food insecurity that is growing across different segments of society. The ongoing situation underscores the vulnerabilities that many face as they navigate the complex challenges of food security in America.
In the New York borough of the Bronx, about 200 more people than usual showed up at the World of Life Christian Fellowship International pantry, many bundled in winter hats and coats and pushing collapsible shopping carts as they waited in a line that spanned multiple city blocks. Some arrived as early as 4 a.m. to choose from pallets of fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, juice, dry goods, and prepared sandwiches.
Mary Martin, who volunteers at the pantry, also relies on it regularly for food to supplement her SNAP payments. She said she usually splits her roughly $200 a month in SNAP benefits between herself and her two adult sons, one of whom has six children and is especially dependent on the assistance.
'If I didn’t have the pantry to come to, I don’t know how we would make it,' Martin said.
The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold payments to the food program starting Saturday, until two federal judges ordered the administration to make them. However, it was unclear when the debit cards that beneficiaries use would be reloaded after the ruling, sparking fear and confusion among many recipients.
In Austell, Georgia, hundreds of cars picked up food at drive-through lanes, with Must Ministries reporting they distributed food to about 1,000 people, exceeding their typical bimonthly deliveries. Families expressed concerns about receiving SNAP benefits in time for Thanksgiving, with many like 74-year-old SNAP recipient James Jackson voicing frustration about the impacts of government decisions on their lives.
'If you’ve never been poor, you don’t know what it is to be poor,' Jackson said. 'I hope that it turns around. I hope that people get their SNAP benefits, and I hope we just come together where we can love each other and feed each other and help each other.'
The pantry demand is no longer just for the poor or elderly; it includes 'people from all walks of life,' as noted by Rev. John Udo-Okon of the Bronx pantry. This demonstrates the reach of food insecurity that is growing across different segments of society. The ongoing situation underscores the vulnerabilities that many face as they navigate the complex challenges of food security in America.
