SNAP benefits look set to run out on November 1, with nearly 42 million Americans losing access. They include 2.1 million LGBTQ adults, nearly half of whom have at least one child under 18 in their home. Here’s how to help those in need—and where to find help if you need it.
The Situation
First, let’s be clear: The administration could use contingency funds to cover SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, but it refuses to do so. This analysis from the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) explains further, noting, among other things:
Under past shutdowns, during both Republican and Democratic administrations, SNAP benefits have always been provided using available funding sources to prevent a break in benefits. While it is not clear whether past administrations used the contingency reserve or instead used other available funding sources, making use of the contingency reserve unnecessary, the guidance documents from past shutdowns or near-shutdowns make it clear that the SNAP contingency reserve was available to cover regular SNAP benefits.
For a look at who is using SNAP, see this other CBPP report, which explains, “SNAP serves as an important support for many working-age individuals and their families. While many are experiencing temporary unemployment, SNAP also helps those with persistently low earnings, including those who have long-term barriers to employment, who may need assistance in affording groceries over longer periods of time.”
An LGBTQ Issue
A July report from UCLA’s Williams Institute notes that “LGBT adults were more likely than non-LGBT adults to experience food insecurity and to rely on SNAP.” It found that 15% of LGBT adults, versus only 11% of non-LGBT adults, received SNAP benefits. They include 1.3 million lesbian and bisexual women, 500,000 gay and bisexual men, 250,000 transgender adults, and 900,000 LGBT adults who have children under 18 in their household.
If You Need Food
This is only a starter list and not intended to be comprehensive. Online searches can often use your location to give you more localized results.
- Check Feeding America’s food bank finder, which will also link to results for local food pantries. (Remember: a food bank is a warehouse that collects food donations; a food pantry then gives the food directly to people.) can guide you.
- Feeding America also has information about additional free food programs and resources, including ones specific to kids and older adults.
- Other resources:
- ChangeX Community Fridge finder
- Freedge finder
- Mini Pantry finder
- Many LGBTQ community centers also have food pantries. I have been unable to find a comprehensive list, but if you do an online search for “lgbtq community centers with food pantries near [your location]” you may find some results. You can also start with this general list of LGBTQ community centers.
- Note that DoorDash and grocery partners are covering the cost of delivery and service fees for SNAP recipients in November. See details here.
To Help Those in Need
Again, this is only a starter list and not intended to be comprehensive. Online searches can often use your location to give you more localized results.
- Give in goods, money, or time to your local food bank or pantry. Use Feeding America’s finder to get started.
- Next, check your local pantry/bank’s site to see what their particular needs are at the moment.
- Remember that food pantries/banks are not places to get rid of old, odd, or expired goods. If it’s not good enough for you to eat, don’t give it.
- Many food pantries/banks are also in need of household cleaning and personal care products, including menstrual products (but again, check with your local bank about their needs).
- If you are giving money, see if your employer will match your donation.
- Donate food to community fridges and/or minipantries. Use the finders under “If You Need Food” above.
- If you know people in need, find ways to offer assistance that respect their dignity. Bring extra snacks to your kids’ soccer game or other activities, for example, and share widely. Give your tween/teen extra menstrual products to share with friends, no questions asked.
- At the same time, don’t assume that you know who needs assistance and who doesn’t. Give to your local food bank/pantry as well.
- Tell Congress to use contingency funds to keep SNAP going during the shutdown.
- MomsRising has an online petition.
- Phone calls are also important. (Find contact information for your members of Congress.) Just say something like, “I am a constituent, and I would like [congressperson’s name] to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds for SNAP so that 42 million Americans don’t go hungry.”
- Tell Congress to end the shutdown, not only for SNAP, but also so that millions of federal workers can get paid and feed their families. Feeding America has a petition here.