FARGO, N.D. — As of Nov. 1, the 48,000 people on SNAP benefits in the state of North Dakota no longer have access to the program due to the
government shutdown.
SNAP —Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — is a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the government has announced that SNAP benefits will be cut beginning Nov. 1.
To help make up for the loss of SNAP benefits, the Great Plains Food Bank —North Dakota’s only food bank — has started a fundraising campaign, where their goal is to source an additional 1 million pounds of food to be distributed to those in need. The Great Plains Food Bank usually sources a million pounds of food each month, but the additional million pounds will help them cover the rising number of people in need of food in every county in North Dakota, along with Clay County, Minnesota.
“SNAP is such a big program. It is proven to be the hunger's most effective hunger relief program,” said Darby Njos, Great Plains Food Bank communications manager.
The government shutdown has brought people to the state’s food banks who would not normally need assistance, due to the missed paychecks by government workers. Njos said those government workers and contractors are faced with a difficult decision: Do you pay for food or other bills and needs?
Njos said they are starting to see the impact of those lost paychecks. A mobile food pantry went to Williston, North Dakota, where they anticipated helping 250 households, which according to Njos is already on the higher side. However, due to the demand at the mobile food pantry, they actually ran out of food to give to neighbors in need.
“We had another one in Moorhead two weeks ago, and that one also ran out. Thankfully, we just made the mark. We just passed out enough food to feed everyone that came through, but we ran out of food as well,” Njos said. “We're starting to see those higher numbers increase to the people who are looking for that extra support.”
Njos projects that the Great Plains Food Bank will continue to up its pounds of food in the coming months, but she said the Great Plains Food Bank team feels energized and up for the challenge when it comes to helping neighbors in need.
“This is a time where many people who may have never seen them needing to use a food pantry before, are in a spot where it could be really beneficial for them or their families. And we want them to know that they can access food pantries if they need assistance,” she said.
For information on donating to the Great Plains Food Bank, visit greatplainsfoodbank.org/take-action/join-us-as-a-partner/products-we-accept.