On Saturday, Nov. 1, benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, were cut off due to the government shutdown. There is uncertainty about when SNAP benefits will be restored.
SNAP provides food assistance to nearly 42 million Americans nationwide, or 12% of the population. In Illinois, that proportion is even higher: 15% of the population, or nearly 2 million people, receive benefits.
Local Quad City organizations are responding to the cuts however they can. Mike Clark, a volunteer at the Sacred Heart food pantry, said that there has been a spike in people coming to the pantry due to SNAP cuts.
“We’re trying to get [more] food. We get a lot from River Bend food bank and various churches around the area,” Clark said.
River Bend Food Bank acts as a hub for pantries across a 23-county service area, providing food to over 400 pantries. Vice President Jenny Colvin said the food bank is facing a four-year high in demand, with 65,000 people in its service area receiving SNAP benefits.
“For every one meal we provide, SNAP provides nine in our service area, so you do the math. It would take $42 million to make up the deficit,” Colvin said.
Colvin said Governors Kim Reynolds of Iowa and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois released a cumulative $21 million to assist food banks across their states, of which River Bend received around $800,000.
On Augustana’s campus, student organizations like Campus Cupboard are also working to fight food insecurity. The free pantry provides shelf-stable food to students, along with personal hygiene products and sexual health items courtesy of Hey Jane(y) Co. Students can also receive clothing from the associated Campus Closet.
Senior Kaylee Wilkens, student director of Campus Cupboard, has been working closely with Campus Cupboard since September. She said that, while the supply of food in the cupboard is expected to remain unaffected, the college cupboard is anticipating an increase in demand due to SNAP cuts. Campus Cupboard accepts donations of shelf-stable food, hygiene products and money, she said.
“We don’t really know how many students on campus are on SNAP, but we are definitely going to see an increased amount of usage this next month,” Wilkens said.
Students in the Augustana Sociology and Anthropology (SOAN) Society are raising money for the River Bend Food Bank through their “Chickens for Change” fundraiser. The SOAN Society will be selling crocheted chickens in the brew from Nov. 11 to Nov. 21.
Senior Curtis Baldwin, president of the SOAN Society, said that every dollar raised for River Bend Food Bank allows the food bank to distribute five meals. The SOAN Society hopes to raise enough money to provide over 10,000 meals.
“[We’ve been] supporting groups we think are important, and it feels like the world is changing a bit around us,” Baldwin said.
Volunteer opportunities and a pantry finder are available on River Bend’s website. People can also donate directly to the food bank on their website.
