Thousands of Iowa Families Face Tough Choices Without SNAP Support
SNAP benefits will not be issued starting on November 1. Here’s how that’s impacting Iowans.
The widespread effects of the continued government shutdown are becoming increasingly damaging. To add further fuel to the already destructive fire? The loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for over 40 million Americans.
The federal program—commonly referred to as food stamps—provides monthly payments for low-income families who are struggling to buy groceries. In an alarming message posted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs the SNAP program, posted on October 27, the USDA stated that benefits will not be administered beginning on November 1.
The inflammatory message from the USDA reads, in full: “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
This does next to nothing to provide clear answers or assistance to those who will no longer receive SNAP benefits due to the government’s continued shutdown. Roughly 131,000 eligible Iowa households will go without payments during one of the most crucial months for food purchases: November.
Thousands of Iowans will be impacted by the lack of SNAP benefits
The CEO of the Des Moines Area Religious Council, Kathy Underhill, spoke about this issue with Business Record. Underhill said, “November is always the busiest month in the food bank and food pantry world, and if SNAP benefits do not go out on time, in November, the capacity of food banks and food pantries will be pushed to their very limits.”
She added that despite this encroachment on the food bank’s capacity, “We’re staying in close contact with all of our partners across the metro to ensure that there are no interruptions in daily service, and we have no plans at this time to limit the amount of food we guarantee or alter our services.”
Underhill also encouraged Iowans to support their community by dropping off donations to local food pantries or by volunteering their time when possible. Governor Kim Reynolds has already taken a proactive approach toward the looming issue. On Thursday, she instructed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to review the response plan for food insecurity that was previously used during COVID-19 lockdowns, and to hold ongoing calls with local food banks to determine their status.
In a news release issued before USDA’s October 27 proclamation, Governor Reynolds said, “I’ve asked HHS to remain in regular contact with Iowa’s food banks so that we are aware of their current inventory and their ability to increase food orders and distribution if necessary. Our focus in Iowa will be on understanding the needs of food banks and pantries across the state and applying what we learned during the pandemic to support SNAP households if benefits are delayed.”
She noted that in Polk County alone, 50,000 residents could go without their benefits. “That’s about 1 in 10 neighbors. Half of those are children or older adults. It also means — about $9 million a month in lost grocery sales for our local grocery retailers. This will hit low-income Iowans incredibly hard,” Reynolds said.
Local food banks are working to stay stocked amid the struggles
The Food Bank of Iowa’s chief communications and strategy officer, Annette Hacker, said they’re working to ensure that partner freezers, shelves, and coolers remain stocked through the government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits. Hacker said this applied to food banks within Polk County, as well as 54 additional counties throughout the state. She added, though, that “our resources are not unlimited,” and “it takes all of us working together to get Iowans the food they need to thrive.”
Hacker emphasized the seriousness of the unfolding situation while speaking with Business Record, saying, “We do have USDA orders coming through the end of the year, but there can’t be any new orders until the government reopens — as for the million pounds, or 30 truckloads of food we have ordered for delivery in the first quarter of 2026, it certainly remains to be seen if we ever see any of that food.”
To find a local food bank to donate to or volunteer at, please click here.
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