The longest shutdown in U.S. history began at midnight Sept. 30 and ended Nov. 12 after the president signed a bill funding the\u00a0 government through Jan. 30.<\/p>\n
The major reason for the recent rise in requests for food is the chaos surrounding\u00a0 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. Absent a budget, millions of SNAP recipients did not receive payments in November.<\/p>\n
Also contributing to the increase in pantry visitors are the thousands of federal workers who did not receive paychecks during the six-week budget impasse.<\/p>\n
Compounding all these factors is higher costs for food.<\/p>\n
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A volunteer prepares bags of nonperishable food for distribution at Catholic Charities of Philadelphia\u2019s Southwest Family Service Center in Philadelphia Nov. 5. (Photo by Matthew Gambino)<\/p>\n
Liz Hagedorn has been executive director of Catholic Charities\u2019 Nutritional Development Services<\/a> since 2017. NDS addresses hunger and food insecurity across the region, \u00a0supporting 50 food pantries, food cupboards, and food distribution programs. In 2024, NDS\u2019 Community Food Program served 169,000 people.<\/p>\n Hagedorn hasn\u2019t seen demand like this since the COVID pandemic. \u201cPeople are really frightened and anxious,\u201d she said. \u201cLike the pandemic, they don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen from one day to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim McPhail helps run the food pantry at Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Darby, Delaware County. He, too, has observed the public\u2019s fear, anxiety, and anger, in some cases \u2014 \u00a0\u201cthough it\u2019s not directed at us,\u201d He said.<\/p>\n The pantry, open to the public Mondays and Thursdays, had provided food to an average of 50 families a week. \u201cLast week we saw well over 100, and we had to turn people away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is, of course, a relief to have the shutdown end, but we anticipate that need for food will continue,\u201d said Heather Huot, Secretary and Executive Vice President of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia. \u201cWith the permanent changes that have gone into effect for SNAP benefits and families struggling to afford rent, utilities, and health care, we are anticipating increased need for food.\u201d<\/p>\n Full benefits are expected to resume soon for the 42 million SNAP recipients nationwide, but the timing will vary by state. The SNAP population in Philadelphia is more than 471,000, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and the working poor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is truly a struggle \u2026 even with two working parents, to put food on the table and take care of other (financial) responsibilities,\u201d Hagedorn said.<\/p>\n Martha\u2019s Choice, Montgomery County\u2019s most visited pantry, served more than 4,100 families in the last 12 months. Although many customers work at least one job, often more, they still live paycheck to paycheck.<\/p>\n They must make difficult choices every day, said Director of Operations Eli Wenger. \u201cAre they going to pay rent? Are they going to get medical services? Or are they going to buy food?\u201d\u00a0 he said.<\/p>\n Cathie Squillace helps run the pantry at Blessed Virgin Mary Parish with Jim McPhail. With food supplies dwindling, the parish recently put out a call to the community. \u201cA lot of people still love and still care and still want to help, even if the government doesn\u2019t,\u201d Squillace said.<\/p>\n For example, the response from St. Mary Magdalene School was overwhelming and immediate.<\/p>\n \u201cThey came through in a big way,\u201d McPhail said. While a one-time food drive is helpful, \u201ca monthly drive is even better.\u201d<\/p>\n He is grateful for the area churches that make regular monthly donations, and he hopes more will do the same.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0 really beautiful how people are looking out for their brothers and sisters,\u201d Hagedorn said. Walsh of Martha\u2019s Choice agreed. \u201cThat\u2019s been the most heartening part. People are coming out of the woodwork to respond. But we do need more.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want to help or need food, visit Food Cupboards and Meal Sites for Children<\/a> for an interactive map of programs supported by NDS\u2019 Community Food Program. Some churches also operate their own pantries. Residency requirements and operating hours vary.<\/p>\n Food pantries need healthy, non-perishable food, including:<\/p>\n Some pantries, including Martha\u2019s Choice, also accept personal care items, such as diapers, soap, detergent, and feminine hygiene products.<\/p>\n For a more comprehensive list, review Top 9 Items Food Banks Need the Most <\/a>at the Move for Hunger website. Move for Hunger is a national non-profit based in South Jersey.<\/p>\n\n
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