{"id":335822,"date":"2025-10-27T10:32:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T10:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/335822\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T10:32:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T10:32:53","slug":"potential-for-snap-loss-looms-over-dallas-in-government-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/335822\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential for SNAP loss looms over Dallas in government shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Those experiencing food insecurity in southern Dallas and across North Texas are bracing for impact as anxieties grow over the federal government shutdown. If the shutdown continues past today<\/a>, Texas has warned that November food assistance benefits may not be issued.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting hard out here,\u201d said Yolanda Lamb, a grandmother in Oak Cliff who said she\u2019s relying on food assistance to care for her three grandsons. A loss of benefits would put her in a \u201cstruggle circle,\u201d where she dips into money meant for bills to keep her family from going hungry.<\/p>\n

Millions of Texans rely on SNAP<\/a>, <\/b>or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, informally known <\/b>as food stamps, to make ends meet. <\/b>In Dallas, community members, <\/b>along with leaders of food banks and pantries, worry the loss of these benefits could be catastrophic for already struggling families and children as they head into the holiday season.<\/p>\n

Lamb visits the Dallas Bethlehem Center in South Dallas, which has a pantry and serves hot meals two nights a week. Last week, visitors were panicking over what could happen if they lose benefits, said Annette Cullors, program manager at the center. They worry, she said, that there won\u2019t be enough food at pantries if SNAP stops.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEverybody was talking, \u2018Did y\u2019all hear about what\u2019s going to happen? We\u2019re not going to have any food. We don\u2019t know what to do,\u2019\u201d Cullors said, adding, \u201cIt hurts my heart to know that there are children and senior citizens that may not have food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leaders of pantries and food banks told The Dallas Morning News they\u2019re committed to serving those in need but monitoring to see if benefits come through on time. Some said they\u2019re already operating at full-tilt or <\/b>seeing higher demand than during the pandemic. Others are getting requests from those anxious about future difficulties amid the shutdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking epic numbers here,\u201d said Wes Keyes, CEO of Brother Bill\u2019s Helping Hand, of the demand already being seen. The nonprofit operates pantries in West and South Dallas. He added: The pantry has already served more people than it did last year. More food. More people. \u201cEverything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Food insecurity rates have trended upward since the pandemic. Texas has the highest rate<\/a> of food insecurity in the U.S., according to nonprofit Feeding America. Rates are higher in Dallas County than at the national level. The southern half of the area experiences a larger share of insecurity, according to data presented earlier this year<\/a> at Dallas City Hall, meaning residents face low incomes and less access to nutritious food.<\/p>\n

Food providers brace for outcome<\/p>\n

The scale of issues the North Texas region could face is significant, leaders said. The North Texas Food Bank, a major distributor for the area, <\/b>has sent, on average, more than 10 million meals per month to agencies. The cost of living and inflation haven\u2019t let up, said Clarissa Clarke, government relations officer for the food bank, who added that the NTFB\u2019s partners are worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody is concerned because we\u2019re hearing from our neighbors that they just can\u2019t get by,\u201d Clarke said. \u201cThey won\u2019t be able to get by without the SNAP, and it\u2019s a lot of working families.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the shutdown continues, several leaders said a delay in assistance could set those in need back, a domino effect for people already dealing with slim margins, or who have fallen on hard times, who may delay other bills to afford food.<\/p>\n

Lamb, who is 67 and caring for children aged 12, 13 and 15, said she had a separate issue with her previous month\u2019s food assistance, and is also relying on social security payments. She already hasn\u2019t paid some bills. The shutdown doesn\u2019t make sense to her. She has rent, water, gas, electric and a car note.<\/p>\n

\"Staff<\/p>\n

Staff Vera Isaac (left) serves as people walk in during a hot meal program at Dallas Bethlehem Center, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. <\/p>\n

Shafkat Anowar \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

It takes people a while to get back on their feet, said Benaye Wadkins Chambers<\/a>, president of Crossroads Community Services, a food distributor that serves the Bethlehem Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just, \u2018the check doesn\u2019t come this month,\u2019\u201d Wadkins Chambers said. \u201cEven if I get it two weeks later or three weeks later, now I\u2019m so far behind. I was behind before, and now I\u2019m even farther behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crossroads has been seeing a steady increase of about 5% to 10% each week since the shutdown, she said, with the expectation of a big uptick if there\u2019s no resolution this week. The possibility of SNAP not coming is happening as families head into the holidays, when there is typically elevated need, there could be layoffs and kids will be out of school, meaning they need more meals at home, she said.<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Dallas resident Madison Miller, 23, hands out pork products during Brother Bill’s Helping Hand grocery store hours on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Dallas. Miller said the service provides for those who may not have the opportunity to get groceries or health care otherwise. <\/p>\n

Christine Vo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

The NTFB estimates about 40,000 federal workers live in its service area, which stretches over about 9,200 miles and goes up to the Oklahoma border. Roughly 460,000 people on SNAP are estimated to live in the 12 counties the food bank serves.<\/p>\n

Clarke said the NTFB ordered food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in advance, meaning it will receive food through the end of the year. It receives 22% of its food from the USDA. It receives donations. However, it has been purchasing more food than it has in the past \u2014 18% \u2014 and \u201cwe have to pay more, too,\u201d Clarke said.<\/p>\n

The cost of groceries increased 2.7% this August from one year ago, the largest gain outside the pandemic since 2015. In addition to the demand stretching food providers, they\u2019ve already had to worry<\/a> about federal funding cuts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever we have to do to get the food out to our agency partners and to our neighbors, we are doing,\u201d Clarke said.<\/p>\n

Food insecurity doesn\u2019t let up<\/p>\n

At Brother Bill\u2019s main location in West Dallas, cars spilled out of the parking lot and onto the road. The lobby was packed as neighbors snaked through the pantry with carts, picking out watermelons and other fruits or vegetables, canned and dried goods and frozen meats.<\/p>\n

Keyes said the pantry is already overworked and understaffed, with workers departing for better-paying jobs. The pandemic was terrible, he said, but need has continued to snowball. Brother Bill\u2019s has been around for more than 80 years, he said, through other emergencies. SNAP is the latest issue the pantry faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what that\u2019s going to mean for us, but I can\u2019t imagine it\u2019s going to be good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Brother Bill\u2019s distributed 1.3 million meals in 2020, Keyes said. Last year, the organization doubled pandemic numbers. Keyes said that this year, they could be on track to triple the pandemic count. In 2025, through September, Brother Bill\u2019s is already at more than 2.6 million meals.<\/p>\n

At the Jubilee Park and Community Center, a much smaller food operation, there has been about a 3% increase, already serving more families this year than last year, said Mark Mullaney, the chief operating officer.<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Dallas resident Blake Mason, 8, puts bagged green bell peppers into the cart during Brother Bill’s Helping Hand grocery store hours on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Dallas. Mason\u2019s mother said it is important to accept any help you can get, especially during these times. <\/p>\n

Christine Vo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

Over the past few weeks, families have been reaching out about availability, he said, but there\u2019s a waitlist. Organizations are open fewer days leading up to the holidays, and demand is usually higher.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve just seen increased phone calls and inquiries with people thinking about if these benefits are affected, how they\u2019ll continue to try to make ends meet and stretch their food resources further,\u201d Mullaney said.<\/p>\n

With the waitlist, if someone doesn\u2019t show, Jubilee tries to make calls in real-time to backfill scheduled pickups, he said. The center is also keeping up with other organizations to refer visitors. Mullaney said the center also provides rental, mortgage and utility assistance, which could help offset costs and help food budgets.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this is affected on that large of a scale, it\u2019s going to be hard to absorb all of that additional demand and need because our folks are already just trying to make it work every month,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Community could step up<\/p>\n

Clarke, <\/b>with the NTFB, noted that government workers and others seeking SNAP can still sign up. There may be a delay in the benefit, but at least their application will be in and they\u2019ll be directed to resources in the meantime, she said.<\/p>\n

Food providers said those looking to help can donate or reach out to their local organizations and volunteer. Additionally, the community can check to see which items are needed and organize a drive.<\/p>\n

Like several others, Keyes said Brother Bill\u2019s will double-up its efforts, and he believes and hopes that donors, churches, businesses or volunteers will come through for those in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to be here,\u201d Keyes said. \u201cWe\u2019re always going to be here. That\u2019s what Christ has called us to do, is to be here during hard times for people.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the Bethlehem Center, volunteers are already calling to ask if there\u2019s a way to help or make donations as uncertainty continues, Cullors said. Cullors said she\u2019s not worried about being busy. There have been times when she, and others, have pulled from their own pockets to ensure food was available.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart aches more than I am worried about it,\u201d Cullors said. \u201dI just hurt to see that it\u2019s happening and to see that we are a country that is at that point where people may not be able to get food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lamb, who has been working to feed her grandkids, said the community can\u2019t wait for the government to reopen. She believes life could become more difficult, so it\u2019s important for the community to help. <\/p>\n

When she picks up groceries at the Bethlehem Center or other places, she takes them to seniors or parents in her neighborhood. She uses her transportation to give back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI might not have much. I ain\u2019t no millionaire,\u201d Lamb said, but when she sees food others don\u2019t want, she takes it to those who need it \u201cbecause everybody\u2019s got to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Those experiencing food insecurity in southern Dallas and across North Texas are bracing for impact as anxieties grow…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":335823,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,1596,11644,14055,8629,50,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-335822","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-dallas","10":"tag-food-insecurity","11":"tag-future-of-north-texas","12":"tag-local-politics","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-texas","15":"tag-tx","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-united-states-of-america","18":"tag-unitedstates","19":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115445681832225723","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=335822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335822\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/335823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=335822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=335822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=335822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}