November may prove to be a difficult month for many households.
President Donald Trump recently threatened to defy a court order and continue withholding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this month — later walked back by White House representatives — amid an already tumultuous financial landscape for millions of Americans.
Anti-hunger organizations and food justice advocates have warned federal leaders that the continued funding lapse could lead to widespread food insecurity as the government shutdown crawls past the current 35-day record. SNAP recipients can expect to receive a fraction of their usual benefit payouts in the coming weeks, unless Congress acts quickly.
Hunger relief organizations have been organizing against such a situation for months, with much experience under their belt — it's not the first time SNAP has been on the chopping block.
In 2023, the federal government scaled back emergency SNAP allotments included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, leading to a reduction in benefits that previously kept more than 4 million Americans out of poverty. This month's cuts are expected to impact more than 40 million Americans who receive SNAP payouts each month.
There's extra help out there if you need it.
How to find additional SNAP benefits in your area
Many state governments have stepped in to fill the gaps in SNAP funding while awaiting the decision of legislators. Eight states — Maryland, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia — as well as the District of Columbia will be providing direct financial aid to SNAP recipients, Newsweek reported.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency last week, allocating $65 million in emergency funds to the state's network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other organizations, including the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and food surplus rescue organization Nourish NY.
City governments are providing help, too. San Francisco is offering prepaid grocery cards to residents on the CalFresh program.
Find out if your state is providing temporary assistance using this online map.
To find state-specific SNAP program information, use the USDA's online directory.
Utilize food banks, community fridges, and more assistance
Many may turn to the country's network of food banks, many of which have been hosting large food distribution events with prepackaged boxes of food.
Nonprofit Feeding America has an online search tool to locate food banks in your area if you need to fill nutrition gaps and supplement grocery purchases. Hunger Free America has its own food directory that can connect individuals to local food banks and soup kitchens. It also operates the National Hunger Hotline. Call 866-3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479) for more help.
It's worth noting that food banks were hit by recent Trump administration's funding cuts, as well, in what some have called a widespread "erosion of federal food support." A vital resource for many communities, food banks will face similar resource constraints this month.
You can find additional food assistance through independent food helplines like Lemontree, which connects individuals with free food opportunities in their area. Lemontree operates in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Columbus, Detroit, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.
Many advocates have encouraged individuals to contact local mutual aid groups, food pantries, and community fridge networks to find meals, too. Check out this international map of community fridges.
To supplement on-the-ground work, companies like Instacart and Doordash have hosted emergency food drives and funneled donations into food banks and rescue networks. Instacart and Doordash also announced their own SNAP emergency programs, including free and discounted grocery deliveries and national food drives. The grocery delivery apps started accepting SNAP and EBT payments in 2023.
Meanwhile, industry-specific organizations have launched their own initiatives to support SNAP beneficiaries. For example, One Fair Wage, an advocacy organization for restaurant and service workers, announced a Service Workers' SNAP Emergency Fund. Service workers and their families can apply to receive direct cash assistance if they are eligible for the SNAP program.
