Government Shutdown Sparks Surge in Demand at Food Pantries

Rising Demand at Local Food Pantries Amid Federal Shutdown

Amidst the ongoing government shutdown, local food pantries are experiencing increased demand as federal food assistance payments face delays. Flagstaff’s community is feeling the impact, with a notable rise in the number of families seeking help.

Outside the Flagstaff Family Food Center’s warehouse, a queue of cars waits patiently as staff and volunteers distribute essential groceries. Recently, the center has observed a 30% surge in demand, a pattern that could continue as the shutdown persists.

Chris Smiley, the Distribution Manager, noted, “We’re expecting the need to just keep going up and up and up. On Tuesday, we broke our record for families served at our distributions. And then Wednesday, we broke the Tuesday record. And then on Thursday, we almost matched it.”

Vice President Ceara Chirovsky emphasized that the center is ready to support the community, stating, “The food is here. You do not have to go hungry, you can come to us and we will give you food to put on the table for yourself and your family and it is high quality and it is nutritious.”

The federal shutdown has cast uncertainty over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Although a federal judge mandated funding for the food stamp program, there remain concerns about the speed of reloading SNAP cards, which might be delayed by weeks.