Food shelf prepares for an increased demand if the government shutdown continues

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — If the government shutdown continues, funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, will be depleted.

“There will not be funds available for any SNAP benefits to current recipients for November,” said Michelle Ness, the executive director at PRISM.

SNAP is a federal program. She said that people losing SNAP benefits will increase the responsibility for food shelves.

“We expect more people to be coming in, in even more crisis,” she said. “We want to try to help make up that difference. The biggest challenge is funds and food. We need food.”

Governor Tim Walz said earlier this week, the state stopped processing SNAP applications because of the shutdown.

“It’s here. It’s real. We can’t backfill that at the state level; it’s federal programs,” Walz said.

Ness said they hope to be able to provide more food in November because they know people will need help.

“So, what we’re talking about right now is how do we give out more food. What are the items that we can most readily give out additional amounts?” Ness said.

She said she’s worried about how losing SNAP benefits will impact the most vulnerable.

“Hennepin and Ramsey County there’s at least 100,000 households that rely on SNAP benefits. Folks who are receiving SNAP are largely children, folks with disabilities and seniors, so our most vulnerable community members,” she said. “It’s a lot of people who are going to be impacted, really our most vulnerable community members, and I’m just. I’m very concerned about their experience and their well-being. It’s unfortunate.”

Ness said some people are visiting multiple food shelves to get what they need.

She said they’re seeing more first-timers come in, and anticipates federal workers will start to come in. Ness said she’s working with staff on communication to make sure everyone feels welcome.

“We want to make sure we got our staff and volunteers well prepared,” she said.

Ness said they need monetary and food donations so they can meet the demand in November. She said they will need significant community support if the shutdown continues into December.