When KC Neufeld announced on her Denver neighborhood's Facebook page that her family would be handing out ramen and packs of macaroni and cheese in addition to candy this Halloween, she wasn’t expecting much of a response. The mother of twin 4-year-olds was just hoping to make a small difference in her working-class neighborhood as food aid funding for tens of millions of vulnerable Americans is expected to end Friday due to the government shutdown.
Within two days, nearly 3,000 people had reacted to Neufeld's post, some thanking her and others announcing they would follow suit. This post blew up way more than I ever anticipated and I’m severely unprepared, said Neufeld, 33, explaining that she is heading back to the store to get more food despite her family hitting their grocery budget for the week. I wish I could just buy out this whole aisle of Costco, she added. I can’t. But I’ll do what I can.
Neufeld is one of many across the U.S. preparing to give out shelf-stable foods to trick-or-treaters this year to help fill the void left by looming cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries. A flurry of widely shared posts have appeared, suggesting food items that can be given out and showing stocks of cheese sticks, mini cereals, canned soup, or even diapers ready for trick-or-treaters.
Emily Archambault and her sister-in-law Taylor Martin in La Porte, Indiana, will provide pasta, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, and diapers for families needing support. It kind of takes a little bit of pressure off of parents, said Martin, highlighting the discreet way to access aid without judgement.
Erika Dutka, a SNAP recipient from Archbald, Pennsylvania, expressed relief in receiving food at a “trunk or treat” community event, emphasizing that support can buy time for families during challenging times. Neufeld echoed a call for compassion, urging people not to assume others' situations based on appearances: You truly don’t know what other people are going through.\
Within two days, nearly 3,000 people had reacted to Neufeld's post, some thanking her and others announcing they would follow suit. This post blew up way more than I ever anticipated and I’m severely unprepared, said Neufeld, 33, explaining that she is heading back to the store to get more food despite her family hitting their grocery budget for the week. I wish I could just buy out this whole aisle of Costco, she added. I can’t. But I’ll do what I can.
Neufeld is one of many across the U.S. preparing to give out shelf-stable foods to trick-or-treaters this year to help fill the void left by looming cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries. A flurry of widely shared posts have appeared, suggesting food items that can be given out and showing stocks of cheese sticks, mini cereals, canned soup, or even diapers ready for trick-or-treaters.
Emily Archambault and her sister-in-law Taylor Martin in La Porte, Indiana, will provide pasta, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, and diapers for families needing support. It kind of takes a little bit of pressure off of parents, said Martin, highlighting the discreet way to access aid without judgement.
Erika Dutka, a SNAP recipient from Archbald, Pennsylvania, expressed relief in receiving food at a “trunk or treat” community event, emphasizing that support can buy time for families during challenging times. Neufeld echoed a call for compassion, urging people not to assume others' situations based on appearances: You truly don’t know what other people are going through.\
