An estimated 721,000 Snap recipients in North Texas are receiving this message via phone Friday evening: “Due to the federal government shutdown, your November SNAP benefits will not be issued at this time.”
After weeks of worry, reality is inching closer for those who rely partially or entirely on federal food aid.
SNAP benefits are not expected to immediately be loaded onto EBT cards beginning November 1 as the government shutdown continues.
Organizations that feed those in need year-round are already reporting increased numbers.
“Generally, we see around 120, 150 families per Tuesday,” said Robin Forsythe, Exec. Dir. Community Lifeline Center. “Tuesday is our first day that we open in the week. This week, we saw 183 families on Tuesday.”
These are numbers Community Lifeline Center in McKinney isn’t used to.
“This morning when we came in for Friday, we never have a line on Fridays,” said Forsythe. “This morning we had a line probably about 20 people deep.”
Community Lifeline Center serves northern Collin County including Mckinney, Anna, Melissa, and Princeton.
“We’ve seen an increase over the last month of people coming into the pantry and new families especially,” she said. “We generally serve around only like 400 to 500 families per week.”
Those visiting Community Lifeline prides itself in providing families with a grocery-store like setting at its food bank.
The people they serve include families facing layoffs, an unexpected health crisis and those anxious about SNAP benefits in November, said Forsythe.
New data shows a rise in food insecurity in Collin County.
The city of Princeton, for example, is the fastest growing city in the country and home to an increased number of SNAP recipients, according Texas Department of Health and Human Services data obtained by NBC 5 investigates.
As of August, DHHS data shows approximately 4,700 people in Princeton received federal food aid.
In one year, Collin County also saw a 12% increase in people in need of SNAP benefits.
Food pantries like Community Lifeline are working to increase shipments of food by Monday.
They’re working with grocery store partners like H.E.B., Tom Thumb, Sprouts, and Winco as well as regional partner to many the North Texas Food Bank.
“With our network of 500 partners, we are hopeful that we’ll be able to help out our community,” said Sergio Morales, of NTFB.
The North Texas Foodbank opened three Dallas College mobile food pantries to open on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for federal workers and SNAP beneficiaries, with proof of identification.
Dallas College Brookhaven Campus – 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75244
Dallas College West Dallas Center – 3330 N. Hampton Road, Dallas, TX 75212
Dallas College North Lake Campus – 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75038
Morales says larger distributions are in the works for next week, especially in Dallas County where the organization says the need is great.
Support is especially needed, said Forsythe.
“Every dollar donated to the food bank creates three meals,” said Morales. “If you can donate food, we are looking for protein-rich food: peanut butter, beans, tuna, canned chicken, rice.”
Many families are accepting help for the first time, said Forsythe.
She hopes people lead with empathy toward others, including children.
A simple gesture can go a long way.
“Since it’s Halloween, you make and you have extra candy laying around that you put it in little bags so that kids can have little bags of candy as they leave if they’re visiting the pantry,” she said. “Just something special for these people that are going through a crisis.”
“For those who need help, I would recommend going online and just typing food pantry in my area and bringing it up the North Texas Food Bank has a good one and you can see right on their website like what their hours are,” said Forsythe.
Those facing food insecurity are encouraged seek out food pantries in your local community, especially because many are restricted to only residents.
Updated information on North Texas Food Bank mobile pantries will be posted on the North Texas Food Bank website and its app.
Hungry? In need of food?
If you’re hungry and need nutritious, free food, you can call 2-1-1 for the latest information on the SNAP program and find alternative food resources from area food banks, food pantries and other community resources.
If you need food and live in Bosque, Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant or Wise counties, search the Tarrant Area Food Bank website for food pantries.
If you need food and live in Collin, Dallas, Delta, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Navarro, or Rockwall counties, search the North Texas Food Bank website for food pantries.
If you need food and live elsewhere in Texas, visit the Feeding Texas website to find your local food bank and food pantries.
SNAP benefits nationwide and in Texas