Thousands Seek Food Aid at US Churches Amid SNAP Suspension

With the pause in SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown, numerous churches across the United States have stepped up to provide emergency food assistance to families in need. In Metro Atlanta, NewBirth Missionary Baptist Church, led by Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant, hosted a large food drive where over 2,000 families lined up to receive free food boxes, highlighting the urgent needs faced by local residents. Similarly, in Albany, Georgia, Rhema Word Cathedral organized an emergency food drive distributing boxes of essentials and Walmart gift cards to help families cope with the SNAP funding halt. In Florida, Parrish United Methodist Church reported a significant increase in demand at its drive-through food distribution, serving up to ten times the usual number of families, providing fresh meat, produce, and other necessities. Indiana’s Charlestown church and a grocery-driven food drive in Topeka, Kansas, also exemplify community efforts to fill the gap left by the SNAP pause, underscoring a nationwide response to rising food insecurity.