As SNAP benefits remain in legal limbo and the government shutdown drags on, more North Texans are showing up at local food banks.
In Dallas, The Stewpot, Catholic Charities and the North Texas Food Bank organized a drive-thru Saturday focused specifically on those impacted by the government shutdown.
“We know that people are going without food, particularly those that are SNAP or government employees and we are doing this special distribution just for those folks,” said Brenda Snitzer, Executive Director of The Stewpot.
The line served 130 households on Saturday.
Volunteer Pete Castaneda said he remembers his family once needing assistance.
“I remember being a young man, being hungry, wanting food,” Castaneda said. “So just being here knowing what it’s like to be in that situation in my earlier life, it just makes it that much easier to come out and spend a couple of hours to help the community.
In McKinney, the non-profit Baby Booties Diaper Bank held its monthly diaper distribution.
Executive Director Helen Hutton said the turnout was unlike anything they’d seen since COVID. They served 490 families and distributed 24,500 diapers.
Hutton said they were prepared to serve more families, but still ran out of some items early.
“It’s heartbreaking to see them trying to provide for their families and plan for the holidays and then have thing after thing happen on top of that,” Hutton said.
Hutton has put out an urgent call for donations to help restock before December.
“The one thing I want the community to understand is that one little person can do a lot of good,” Hutton said. “So if they think they’re one donation or their one act of kindness isn’t going to do something, it can really make a ripple effect and make a difference in the community.”