As the federal shutdown brings uncertainty for households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, some local groups are filling in the need.
Approximately 13% of all Michigan households receive SNAP benefits. Across the state and country, SNAP recipients expect interruptions due to the federal shutdown.
However, two federal judges ruled Friday, Oct. 31, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must continue supporting SNAP using contingency funds. It is not clear when or if the judges' ruling would reinstate benefits to SNAP recipients.
SNAP plays a fundamental role as a financial safety net for many American families. Local organizers and public officials have observed the pause in benefits straining the resources of local food banks and meal programs, many of which rely on donations and grants.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the state would use funds to mitigate some of the damage done by the pause, but that money accounts for only a fraction of the aid Michiganders receive daily.
Swoop's Pantry
Colton Ray, a second-year graduate student seeking a master of social work and graduate assistant for Swoop's Pantry, emphasized the impact the pantry has on Eastern Michigan University and Ypsilanti.
"Food pantries do a wonderful job at bridging the gap to food access and helping households and individuals afford groceries," Ray said.
Swoop's Food Pantry was founded in 2015 and has since received 63,000 visits from community and student shoppers. In the last three years, Swoop's Food Pantry has reported an average of 1,600-1,700 annual shoppers, approximately 1 in every 7 students.
"We anticipate seeing an increase of folks who currently shop who will no longer be receiving benefits, along with those who don't currently use the pantry who will be seeking out additional resources," Ray said.
About 8% of pantry shoppers receive SNAP benefits, and 46.5% of all EMU students experience some level of food insecurity, Ray said.
"SNAP has a broad reach. It doesn't just affect those who receive aid, but it also stimulates the economy," Ray said. "When SNAP benefits are cut, it makes the job of food pantries a lot harder."
For those in need, students, faculty and recent alumni can receive Thanksgiving baskets and food items at Swoop's Pantry's Holiday Harvest event on Nov. 20, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. Located inside Pierce Hall, the pantry's regular hours are posted on their website.
SOS Community Services
SOS Community Services is a food distribution center with its own pantry that is open to anyone.
The pantry is open to shoppers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and shoppers also have the option to place a pick-up order.
"We serve about 900 community members a month," said Amanda Kelly, SOS's food pantry coordinator. "We get our food from Food Gatherers. They provide the food to all the food pantries in Washtenaw County."
Food Gatherers is a food bank and food rescue program that serves 140 community partners across Washtenaw County. Throughout November, the organization plans to purchase more food and increase distributions to the pantries and partners they support in an effort to alleviate the impact felt by community members who access SNAP.
"They pick up perishables, bread and other items from grocery stores, often making the purchases out of their own pocket," Kelly said. "We would not be able to operate without them."
What happens next?
A statement released by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said that SNAP benefits will remain paused throughout November. The statement came after the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service reported that the government shutdown would lead to an insufficient amount of funds left to distribute.
"The well has run dry," the USDA said in a statement.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said SNAP benefits could be reinstated by Wednesday, Nov. 5.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services encouraged those who quality for SNAP benefits to reach out to their local MDHHS office with any questions and to check MI Bridges for further updates related to the pause.
Many local food pantries are helping with the community's pinch for groceries throughout the shutdown. The schedule and addresses of each pantry can be found on Food Gatherers' website at foodgatherers.org.
Those interested in donating to Swoop's Food Pantry or SOS Food Pantry can drop off donations at their facilities during operating hours. Swoop's also accepts clothing donations and other miscellaneous items.
