With SNAP Benefits In Limbo, Local Groups Work to Address Food Insecurity

FRAMINGHAM - Local groups are working to provide food security to residents amid uncertainty with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also know as food stamps.

About 42 million Americans are enrolled in SNAP, which offers funding for eligible residents to purchase food. That figure includes over one million people in Massachusetts. State officials report that more than 8,200 people in Framingham, or approximately 11% of the population within the city, are SNAP clients.

SNAP requires about $8 billion to be funded each month, according to the Associated Press, as recipients are given an average of $187 in benefits per person each month per NPR. With the continuation of the weeks-long federal government shutdown, funding for SNAP was left in limbo once the calendar turned to November 1.

The distribution of SNAP benefits was set to be frozen at the start of the month, though a U.S. district judge in Massachusetts ruled on October 31 that the federal government must provide at least partial SNAP benefits for November. A federal judge in Rhode Island made a similar call this past Friday, ruling that President Donald Trump’s administration must find a way to pay for SNAP. CBS News reported on Monday, November 3, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—the agency that oversees and administers SNAP—will utilize money from a contingency fund in order to facilitate partial SNAP payments during the federal government shutdown. However, a top USDA official declared that the benefit distribution for November “will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months” in some states.

As of the time of this article’s publication, it’s unknown when exactly November SNAP benefits will be distributed by the federal government or how much aid will be distributed to those who are enrolled in the program.

In turn, groups across Framingham and the MetroWest region are facing an increasing demand for their food security resources. One of those organizations is Daniel’s Table, which offers food pantry services to fight hunter. Co-Founder and Program Director for the nonprofit Alicia Blais said there was initially some panic from local clients due to these SNAP developments, with the looming holiday season acting as an additional stressor.

“People normally might be tucking a little something aside for (the holidays)—well, there’s nothing to tuck aside…’Do I buy oil, or do I buy food? Do I skip a meal to make sure my kids are eating enough? Do I go in to buy my medicine or my food?’ These are realities for people,” Blais told The Frame.

“So, we’re just making sure that the food part of it is taken care of, so that maybe they can get the heat taken care of.”

Blais explained the Daniel’s Table team has been busy procuring food recently, though the organization had prepared weeks in advance knowing that the SNAP freeze was possible. She said the organization knows how to “step and pivot” amid uncertain times, especially given their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergency situations.

Daniel’s Table will be providing groceries through their client-choice model specifically for those who have lost access to SNAP benefits starting Thursday, November 6. Blais said that as of early November, 20 to 25 local families have registered for the program specifically set up for SNAP recipients. In the midst of the increase in demand, Blais mentioned that the nonprofit wants to ensure they are not over-promising on what they are able to provide.

Amid the uncertainty of SNAP funding, Blais commended community members—such as business owners, donors, and volunteers—with their assistance.

“We are very blessed here in Framingham that we have a tremendous amount of partnerships, we have a tremendous amount of help,” Blais continued.

“For a huge city: when things like this happen, we act like a small town—neighbors helping neighbors.”

Other local groups have made their resources available for those struggling with SNAP uncertainty as well.

The Natick-based food pantry A Place To Turn advised that they will be increasing the number of people they serve by at least 40 families per week, while the Framingham Interfaith Community Association has recommended residents to collect food and raise money for donations to those in need locally.

President and CEO of the United Way of Tri-County Paul Mina urged MetroWest residents to donate to their Feed-A-Family Response Fund if they’re able. The organization oversees multiple food pantries and programs across the region, including within Framingham.

“This is a time for compassion and cooperation, not division,” Mina wrote in a statement.

“We need fewer political fights and more action to strengthen our shared capacity to ensure no one in Massachusetts goes hungry. Government, foundations, and private citizens alike must come together to provide the resources needed to sustain this vital work.”

Blais said the Daniel’s Table team has been in contact with other pantries, programs, and providers within the region to keep up with demand. In the meantime, the organization is expecting that it could still take weeks for this situation to be fully resolved.

“We can’t, obviously, know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Capital Campaign Director for Daniel’s Table Damia Alami said in a conversation with The Frame.

“But we prepare for, at least, the next two months to be hard on everyone. Because even if (SNAP recipients) do get their funds distributed, it’s going to take a couple of weeks anyways…We’re just making sure we’re ready for the holidays, to make sure that everyone’s table is full—that’s the goal.”

Daniel’s Table is accepting donations—both food-based and monetary to keep operations running—along with volunteers; Blais said that even smaller donations count.

Framingham officials have provided a list of numerous sources for food-related aid.

Meanwhile, the MetroWest Food Collaborative—a regional group comprised of hundreds of community members, farmers, and other groups to combat food insecurity—is advising residents to have at least one cent loaded onto their EBT card in order to continue receiving benefits through the state’s Healthy Incentives Program, which is open to people actively getting SNAP benefits.