SNAP benefits cut off during shutdown, driving long lines at food pantries(apnews.com)
17 pointsby clanky3 months ago2 comments
  • zippyman553 months ago
    Not happy with this but people in need should hit up the local food bank. I started volunteering last year and the quantity of food provided is quite substantial. There are some issues with those people that do not have the ability to cook food or refrigerate such, but in my town, the offerings look pretty good.
    • dragonwriter3 months ago
      > Not happy with this but people in need should hit up the local food bank.

      USDA cuts in the funding for its food bank program earlier in the year make that less useful than it ought to be.

      https://www.today.com/food/news/usda-food-bank-cuts-rcna2000...

      https://www.npr.org/2025/11/01/nx-s1-5588572/snap-recipients...

      https://www.texasobserver.org/trump-cuts-texas-food-banks/

    • mindcrime3 months ago
      but people in need should hit up the local food bank.

      And those of us with the means should consider donating (food|money|time|whatever) TO said food banks.

      I plan to put my money where my mouth is tomorrow, and go out and buy a bunch fo stuff from the "current needs" list of my local food bank and take over to them. It's not much, but given the current situation I figure every little bit is better than nothing.

      • Trasmatta3 months ago
        > And those of us with the means should consider donating (food|money|time|whatever

        One caveat: it's much much better to donate money than food directly.

      • zippyman553 months ago
        Some of the local (and chain) stores really step up at the local food bank. The participants can walk away with nearly $60 bags of retail price breakfast sandwiches, micro wave often needed. But sandwiches too. Close to expiring from a retail point of view. But impressive. Milk, Eggs, pasta, fresh fruit. None of this is federal where I volunteer. They do have a small area of federally funded food, but it is greatly offset by the local donations.
  • almosthere3 months ago
    [flagged]
    • thankyoufriend3 months ago
      Which party has control of the government right now?
      • almosthere3 months ago
        You want them to invoke the nuclear option then? Because they can't do anything about this.
        • clipsy3 months ago
          They can do two things, literally any time they choose: eliminate the filibuster, or negotiate with Democrats.
          • almosthere3 months ago
            [flagged]
            • thankyoufriend3 months ago
              Why doesn't Mike Johnson call the House back in session so they can negotiate?
              • almosthere3 months ago
                They've been negotiating the entire time. You don't need to have people in congress to negotiate.
                • voganmother423 months ago
                  Refusing to use the contingency fund was pretty rich, dangling food away from starving peoples so they wont pay attention to losing health care - the negotiation is next level