Nationwide Lines for Food as SNAP Benefits Cease Amid Government Shutdown

Sun Nov 02 2025 06:45:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

People across the United States are lining up at food pantries for essential meals and groceries after the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were abruptly halted due to the ongoing government shutdown.

As the government shutdown disrupts SNAP benefits, food pantries nationwide report an increase in demand as families scramble for resources. Volunteers and community leaders express concerns for those facing financial vulnerability, as many more people are turning to these services for assistance.

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 Bronx, New York, about 200 additional individuals showed up at the World of Life Christian Fellowship International pantry, many bundled in winter hats and coats, with long lines stretching several blocks. Some patrons arrived as early as 4 a.m. to select from various food options.

Mary Martin, a volunteer at the pantry, expressed her reliance on these services alongside her two adult sons, who deeply depend on this assistance. If I didn’t have the pantry to come to, I don’t know how we would make it, she said.

The Department of Agriculture had planned to suspend payments to the food assistance program, which affected millions, until a court ruling forced them to find a solution quickly. As panic spread, many SNAP recipients faced a troubling uncertainty over when they would receive their vital benefits.

With the demand for food assistance skyrocketing, community leaders reported that pantry services once designated for the needy are now serving a broader demographic. At Calvary Baptist Church's drive-through in Louisville, 74-year-old SNAP recipient James Jackson voiced his frustrations about policy-makers' disconnect with the struggles of the impoverished.

Rev. John Udo-Okon noted that the pantry is now accessible to everyone, stating, The pantry is no longer for the poor, for the elderly, for the needy. The pantry now is for the whole community.

The crisis fueled increased activism and a sense of urgency among volunteers, who provided food, essentials, and even companionship to those in need, amidst reports of embarrassment and shame felt by many seeking help. As winter and the upcoming holidays approach, the hope remains for quicker resolutions and understanding from lawmakers about the realities faced by those without sufficient resources.