Government Shutdown Spurs Food Pantry Demand Surge

Food banks and pantries across multiple U.S. states are seeing sharp spikes in demand as the federal government shutdown threatened to halt SNAP benefits, leaving some sites running out of food and serving record numbers. Local reports include Mt. Ida Food Pantry in Troy serving 97 households in an hour and Massachusetts pantries reporting roughly a 100% increase in requests. Two federal judges have ordered the administration to tap contingency funds to continue SNAP, but it remains unclear when benefits or debit‑card reloads will actually be restored. Some states, including Illinois, have authorized emergency funding, and large organizations such as the Northern Illinois Food Bank say demand is at an all-time high and they are bracing for a surge. Communities are responding with food drives, fundraisers and increased donations, while some institutions say they are operating normally for now though proposed changes would require judicial approval.