Shutdown Ends, Local Food Pantries Still Facing Elevated Demand
Although Congress restored SNAP funding in mid November, San Juan County food pantries continue to see sustained increases in need after weeks without assistance. Local nonprofits such as the Good Food Collective are coordinating distribution and urging monetary donations because they stretch further amid higher food costs.
When federal funding resumed in mid November, it did not immediately erase the strain left by weeks of interrupted benefits. On October 1st nearly 42 million Americans lost SNAP benefits during the federal shutdown. Congress approved a funding bill on November 12 and the President signed it on November 13 to restore SNAP funding through September 2026, but local families and the agencies that serve them are still coping with the gap.
Food pantries across the region reported sharp increases in visitors during the shutdown, with spikes ranging from roughly 20 percent to as high as 80 percent in some counties. Local leaders say the sustained rise in demand, combined with higher food costs and families limited ability to make up lost assistance, is stretching pantry capacity and operational resources. Volunteers and staff in San Juan County have reported longer distribution lines and faster depletion of staple items since the October cutoff.
Nonprofit partners such as the Good Food Collective have stepped in to coordinate across the region. The Collective and its partners are focusing on pooling donations, organizing bulk purchases, and redirecting food supplies where need is greatest. Monetary donations are especially effective because they allow food banks to leverage purchasing power when buying in bulk and negotiating with suppliers. Organizations report that donated dollars can translate into as much as seven dollars of food value through these efficiencies.
The immediate market implication is increased pressure on local emergency food systems at the same time grocery prices remain elevated. Pantries face higher procurement costs and logistical burdens, while families who missed weeks of SNAP assistance have limited options to replace lost income. That combination increases the risk of continued food insecurity through the winter months even after benefits resume.
For San Juan County residents who rely on local food assistance or who wish to help, supporting food banks with monetary donations enables quicker, more flexible relief than food drives alone. Nonprofit coordinators encourage residents to contact the Good Food Collective or local food agencies to learn how to give or receive assistance as the community works through the lingering effects of the shutdown.
