The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not be funded going forward as the United States enters its second month in a government shutdown. There are many questions  surrounding what will happen to those who rely on these programs for support, especially here in southern Illinois.

Jackson County has over 10,000 people who utilize SNAP benefits, and will need to find some other source of food without federal assistance. 

Advertisement

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered over $20 million in state money to assist food banks across the state to offset the lack of funding coming from the federal government amid the shutdown. In this executive order, Pritzker also outlined a plan for how the Illinois government will assist in other ways, like surveying food deserts and ensuring that concerned individuals can have their voices heard on a government level.

The United States has a SNAP contingency fund worth $5 billion; this is how SNAP has continued to function during previous government shutdowns. 

The Trump Administration stood against using this fund, stating that the reserve in place should only be used for disaster relief, which is funded by the same resources as the SNAP benefits. 

Advertisement*

Several judges from across the country have ruled that the government must sustain funding for regular SNAP benefits. The Trump Administration has responded, saying that the government will be providing half of their funding for SNAP this November. 

It is unclear how soon assistance will be available. Although details are still emerging, it is clear that SNAP benefits will be delayed. 

Meanwhile, it has fallen to local food pantries to sustain those in the community who relied on SNAP benefits.

“We are calling upon the good Samaritans of our community to provide assistance to their

neighbors in need as SNAP benefits are paused due to the government shutdown,” Patty Mullen, the executive director of Carbondale food pantry Good Samaritan Ministries, said.

Other food pantries, like the Victory Dream Center, a church and a food pantry, have seen record numbers of people in recent weeks, even before the SNAP benefits were set to be paused.  

Theresa Craig, a volunteer for Victory Dream Center, has worked at food pantries in Illinois and Indiana for over 15 years.

“A lot of people were here last week, there was no place to sit,” Craig said. “It was right after they announced there would not be SNAPs available this month.”

“It is incredible to see the level of need and then to wonder whether you will have to turn people away,” Victory Dream Center director Nathan Cherry said. “These are our neighbors and many of them are in significant struggle.”

Victory Dream Center alone has contributed over 10 million pounds of food to the community since 2010. However, as demand continues to rise, they’re beginning to rely more heavily on the purchase of food rather than donations to feed those who need it. 

“This is not sustainable for us in its current form,” Doug Cherry, pastor of the center, said. “Our client load has increased about 25% over the last few months – before the current SNAP crisis started. More resources are needed.”

“This is a big crisis the public can see but it’s been happening for a while,” Lisa Cherry, the administrative pastor at Victory Dream Center, said.

Food pantries, and those who rely on them, are feeling the strain of limited resources.

A press release by the Neighborhood Co-op, a grocery store in the city’s Murdale Shopping Center, emphasized that food insecurity is a shared reality across the southern Illinois community, and that even those who make the Co-op run every day are navigating the same challenges.

“For those who rely on these programs to access groceries, even a short disruption can mean difficult choices about food, bills and other essentials,” the release read. 

“It’s been hard. If I didn’t have someone helping me, I don’t know how I would’ve made it,”

Amber, a woman who comes to Victory Dream Center, said. “I didn’t know how to ask for help.” 

Amber had relied on SNAP benefits long before the uncertainty began, and depends on food pantries like the Victory Dream Center for assistance. 

Rayann Northam and her mother, Wyndy Michaels, went to college for Veterinary Technology and found themselves in frequent use of food pantries. 

Northam visits the Victory Dream Center every weekend. 

“I’ve eaten more ramen in the last month than I did in my entire college career,” Northam said of the uncertainty around SNAP benefits.

One of Michaels’ cousins had to leave their home in Florida and move in with her due to the SNAP cuts.

“Money’s been tight,” Northam said. “That’s why she tagged along.”

Good Samaritan and Victory Dream Center are both in need of assistance as the shutdown continues. Many food pantries don’t have enough products to sustain the people who need them, which is why they must rely on donations and volunteers.

“All kinds of people rely on food pantries, with many different story lines,” Lisa Cherry said. “The dollar doesn’t spend the same anymore.”

“Every can, every box, every drive matters,” Mullen said. “Everyone can make a difference”

“Community donations and food drives will be critical to ensuring none of our neighbors go hungry,” Mullen said. 

Local businesses, organizations, faith and student groups can partner with Good Samaritan to host food drives by contacting Mullen at [email protected].

For more information about how to contribute to or volunteer at Victory Dream Center, Nathan Cherry is available at 618-525-2025. To give online, go to victorydreamcenter.org.

“Together, we can uphold our cooperative values by centering compassion, equity, and community when and where it’s needed most,” the Co-Op’s press release concluded.

Staff Reporter Orion Wolf can be reached at [email protected] or orionwolf6 on Instagram

Advertisement