A group of people wearing blue shirts that read "volunteer" stand behind a table while they give out food.
Credit: iStock.com/Dragos Condrea

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On November 1, the U.S. government temporarily halted payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps 41.7 million people across the country buy food. Some states continued to finance the benefits in spite of the shutdown, and following the government’s reopening on November 12, beneficiaries in several states received their SNAP benefits again. However, the GOP’s spending law included new requirements in the program that could prevent some people from continuing to receive their SNAP benefits moving forward.

The SNAP halt during the shutdown deeply impacted families and individuals who rely on SNAP—most of whom are children, veterans, older adults, and people with disabilities. Experts warn that even brief gaps in benefits can worsen food insecurity, which research shows harms children’s growth, hurts teenagers’ mental health, and can increase the risk of chronic disease.

Here’s where you can find help. The organizations and resources below can connect you to food locally, and some delivery companies that offered discounts. (And if you’d like to help or donate, these organizations are a good place to start.)

Organizations that can help you find local food pantries and community fridges 

  • Feeding America: Enter your zip code into the search tool to find locations, hours, and services for local food banks and pantries. 
  • Meals on Wheels America: Find meals for adults 60 and older who have mobility challenges. Age requirements and eligibility vary depending on location. The organization also offers nutrition counseling, transportation, and pet food and assistance. Find your local provider here. 
  • ICNA Relief: Find your local pantry among the more than 150 pantries they operate across the country, including in Florida, New York, Texas, and Virginia.
  • WhyHunger: Call 1-800-5-HUNGRY or text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479 to find free food in your community. The service is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. 

Delivery services offering discounts on groceries 

Several grocery delivery companies are offering temporary discounts and fee waivers for SNAP customers. 

  • Gopuff: If you have SNAP linked to the delivery service Gopuff, get up to $50 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery ($25 off until November 15 and another $25 off November 16-30).