Last Saturday, Carolyn Nicholas, 37, left her three kids – ages 16, 14 and 8 – at home and walked to St. Sabina Church, a Greater Chicago Food Depository partner in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. At 7:30 a.m. she joined the quickly forming line for the emergency food box distribution scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Despite working part-time as a bus aid, Nicholas said she’s barely getting by. “Now with SNAP cut off, it’s terrible,” she said, referring to the temporary freeze in November SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits due to the government shutdown.
“My kids are looking at me saying, ‘Mama, what are we going to eat?’” she said.
Adding that one of her kids has special needs, she continued, “It doesn’t make sense. Something’s gotta give.”
Nicholas’ parents stood just behind her in line. “We have no food at home,” said her mom Joanne, 59. She was supposed to receive her November SNAP benefit of $219 that day. “When I logged in (to her account) it just said delayed.”
SNAP participant Mario Wigfall expressed frustration at the program pause and gratitude for the assistance. Photos by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository.
Joanne and her husband are both unable to work due to health issues and rely on their monthly benefit for food. “SNAP ending hurts me,” she said. Despite the wait and the frigid temperatures, she added, “But being able to come here and get food makes me feel better.”
Responding to the crisis
The St. Sabina emergency food box distribution was one of six the Food Depository set up at partner food pantries across Cook County on November 1, the first day without new SNAP benefits. The sites were located in areas with a high concentration of SNAP participants.
Each household received a pre-packaged box filled with shelf-stable items, including pasta, peanut butter, tuna and canned fruits and vegetables. Just days before, volunteers in the Food Depository’s warehouse began packing the boxes, quickly assembling the crisis response.
Volunteers pack emergency food boxes at the Food Depository warehouse
The Food Depository will continue the extra distributions on Saturdays in November, adding more sites throughout the month. These events are in addition to the food pantry, soup kitchen and other distributions regularly offered across Chicago and Cook County throughout each week.
Cook County is home to approximately 900,000 SNAP participants, including children and older adults.
Most of these neighbors were already struggling to make ends meet amid elevated food prices, housing costs and utility bills. Disruptions to SNAP, our nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger tool, pushed many of these families into crisis mode.
Emergency food box distributions serve guests who walk up and drive up.
More guests, more needs
In addition to attending the Saturday distributions, many neighbors flocked to food pantries at the news of the SNAP freeze, some for the first time. Several partner food pantries reported a spike in guests over the past week.
Above and Beyond Free Food Panty in Garfield Park served twice their usual number of guests the day before SNAP benefits ceased. And earlier in the week, Breakthrough Urban Ministries’ food pantry never saw their line disappear during a four-hour distribution. It usually slows to a trickle after an hour and a half.
Sankofa Food Market served hundreds of guests at their emergency food box distribution.
To help, the Food Depository began shipping more food to our network of partner food pantries and other programs to distribute to neighbors throughout the week – as always, at no cost to them. Many sites are accepting as much food as their limited storage space will allow in hopes of being able to serve the elevated number of neighbors walking through their doors.
The Food Depository is able to provide this additional food thanks to our faithful supporters.
Together, we have a history of being there for our neighbors in times of crisis, whether that’s responding to a pandemic or previous government shutdowns.
An outpouring of support
At Sankofa Food Market in Cottage Grove Heights, another distribution site last Saturday, volunteer Camella Squair, 64, helped put emergency food boxes into neighbors’ trunks and back seats.
“I hope this helps until their food support is back,” said Summer Dockery (right), 10, who volunteered at Sankofa’s distribution with her friend London Jackson, 9.
The pantry is part of Trinity United Church of Christ, where Squair has been a member for more than 20 years. The church sent an email the night before the distribution asking for volunteers. Squair was one of a couple dozen who showed up to help their neighbors access much-needed food. Many pantries in the Food Depository network have reported a similar outpouring of volunteer support.
“I can’t buy groceries for all my neighbors who need them, but I can be here supporting and helping give out food,” Squair said.
“I’m so hurt by what’s happening. How are people going to eat? I’m grateful to help provide for those here, but what about other people?”
A pantry guest goes home with an emergency food box.
Aja Jenkins, 30, was one of many appreciative recipients. She attended the Sankofa distribution with her 12-year-old son. “They’re leaving us out here starving,” she said of the temporary cease in SNAP benefits. “It’s such a blessing to receive this food. This puts groceries in our house.”
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