Government Shutdown Threatens SNAP Benefits, Columbus Foundation Grants $500K to Ohio Food Banks

Across multiple U.S. cities, local leaders and organizations are mobilizing food drives and funding efforts to address the impending halt of SNAP benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. In Omaha, Mayor John Ewing and partners have called for donations and pledged $45,000 to local food banks to support residents facing food insecurity as SNAP benefits are paused. Milwaukee officials have similarly launched a city- and county-wide food drive to assist the approximately 230,000 residents dependent on FoodShare, the state's SNAP equivalent, emphasizing community action amid the crisis. In central Ohio, the Columbus Foundation announced $500,000 in grants to 21 nonprofit food pantries preparing for a surge in demand if SNAP benefits cease, with the foundation highlighting the urgency as roughly 1.3 million Ohioans could lose monthly food assistance. These efforts reflect widespread concern over the reduced federal support for nutrition programs and the increased strain on local food assistance networks. The federal shutdown's continuation threatens to deepen food insecurity nationwide, prompting a call for both immediate community aid and legislative solutions to restore SNAP funding.