Shutdown Spurs Food Drives as SNAP Faces Pause

The federal government shutdown has prompted nationwide food drives, community dinners and emergency distributions to help unpaid federal workers and millions at risk of losing SNAP benefits if payments pause on Nov. 1. Local reporting estimates include about 121,000 families in Middle Tennessee, roughly 440,000 Minnesotans and some 84,000 people in Louisville who rely on SNAP. State and local governments, food banks and nonprofits — from Second Harvest partnerships in Tennessee to Denver Dream Center dinners and MSP distributions by The Sanneh Foundation and Second Harvest Heartland — are scrambling to fill the gap. Utah has committed up to $4 million to local food banks, and Louisville leaders partnered with Dare to Care to organize collection events amid reports of nearly bare pantry shelves. WIC funding will continue through November, but organizers are urging monetary and food donations and volunteers now to prevent children, seniors and federal workers from going hungry while the shutdown continues. Officials warn financial stress on unpaid federal workers — including TSA employees and air traffic controllers — could affect safety and operations if the shutdown persists.