CHICAGO (WLS) — Many families are still wondering how they will put food on the table after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson put an order on hold late Friday that would have required the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP food aid payments for November.
Many people in Illinois have received partial SNAP benefit payments, but some say it’s not enough. More groups are pitching in to help.
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Families across Chicago are anxiously waiting for some kind of good news with their SNAP benefits. Some people told ABC7 they received partial payments Friday, but that was only about $12.
On Saturday, local organizations were trying their best to help those in need with a number of food drives across the Chicagoland area.
One of those events happened on the South Side at St. Sabina Church, as Father Michael Pfleger partnered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. They gave away 500 boxes of food last week and another 700 boxes this week. Volunteers handed out boxes to a long line of people who are still without their snap benefits.
A food drive was also held at St. Francis De Sales High School in the city’s East Side neighborhood. They’ve been hosting weekly events there each Saturday, with students and local volunteers pitching in to load up pre-assembled food boxes into cars.
Those receiving this food Saturday said it’s incredibly helpful at a time where many are running out of options without their SNAP benefits.
“It’s gonna be rough this month, so I’m really glad for this and other opportunities around the corner in upcoming days,” one person said.
There was more of the same in the suburbs Saturday, as special food drive was held in Aurora in honor of Veteran’s Day.
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It all comes after Supreme Court Justice Jackson paused a ruling Saturday night requiring the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP. The federal government says they don’t have the funding right now because of the government shutdown.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul called the move reprehensible as he shared a statement on the matter Saturday.
Raoul said in part, “It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would go so far as to seek U.S. Supreme Court intervention – on a Friday night – to prevent Americans from eating when funds are available to provide the much needed benefits. I am forcefully urging the federal government to follow the law and distribute SNAP benefits.”
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