Long lines have formed at food pantries across the U.S. as federal food benefits were cut off due to the government shutdown.

People across the country formed long lines for free meals and groceries at food pantries and drive-through giveaways Saturday, after monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were suddenly cut off because of the ongoing government shutdown.

The delay in SNAP payments, a major piece of the nation’s social safety net that serves about 42 million people, has highlighted the financial vulnerabilities that many face. At the Bronx food pantry, the Rev. John Udo-Okon said “people from all walks of life” are seeking help now.

“The pantry is no longer for the poor, for the elderly, for the needy. The pantry now is for the whole community, everybody,” Udo-Okon said. “You see people will drive in their car and come and park and wait to see if they can get food.”

  • Zulu@lemmy.world
    176·
    1 day ago

    “if you can, dont support the companies that are causing the problem youre trying to support a fix for”

    “nEvEr GoOd EnOuGH!!!”

    Doing more to make a bad situation better SHOULD never be enough until the bad situation is over. Do what you’re capable of, not ‘do the bare minimum because its good enough’.

    Cant donate? Go work to deliver/serve food.

    If the places giving food have all the food, but have a line. They need more people handing it out. That’s “free” to do.

    • comrade_twisty@feddit.org
      62·
      1 day ago

      And if donating via paypal is your only viable option, then do so by all means. I just wanted to point out that it is not the ideal method and it always makes sense to explore alternatives especially when highly questionable cooperations are involved.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      42·
      1 day ago

      Guess what? You’re going to be buying food from “big agg” and supporting mean ole businesses! If you then can grow your own food and donate everything you don’t need to maintain a minimum existence!

      You don’t need to go all Doug Forcett to do good. Stop purity-shaming people.