In Brief:
- Reduced food stamp payments this month — and a delay in benefits — resulting from the federal government shutdown are affecting millions of Americans.
- The shutdown comes as more families are struggling to afford the cost of groceries due to inflation and other factors.
- A nonprofit group in Southern California is collaborating with government to preserve access to healthy food.
Nearly six weeks into the country's longest-ever shutdown, Congress may be poised to reach an agreement that would reopen the government. But it could still be days or even weeks before lawmakers reach an eventual compromise.
Caught in the middle are the millions of Americans whose lives have been disrupted by the government's closure — including the 42 million people who depend on food assistance. Those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or SNAP, have endured agonizing uncertainty for the last several days as the Donald Trump administration has fought a court ruling requiring them to disburse full benefits. The Supreme Courtblocked that order late Friday, and the administration shortly after ordered states to stop disbursing full benefits, which several had hurried to do after the original court ruling.
Some states have resisted Trump's order (Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers responded in a press statement, simply, "no.") But the uncertainty continues, and low-income Americans are struggling to meet basic needs.
Local organizations are stepping in to help states and counties try to fill the gaps. One food pantry in Pasadena, Calif., has so far been able to meet increased demand. This could become a bigger challenge if lawmakers don't manage to end the shutdown before the end of the year.
The Friends in Deed food pantry’s work — and the increased need and anxiety of its patrons — is reflective of scenes playing out across the country. Organization leaders say they feel lucky to count on local government support to help sustain their operations as demand increases.
A Week of Food Security
The Friends in Deed food pantry provides food at no cost and is open three days a week.
The great majority of its shoppers live in the immediate area, including nearby Altadena. There was a surge in demand following the Eaton Fire, but nothing like what is happening in the wake of SNAP changes, the organization’s staffers told Governing.
“We’ve been asking new people if they’ve been affected [by SNAP changes],” says Kristina Martin, the food bank manager. “Almost all say yes.”
The number of families visiting each week has recently gone from 600 to 850.
Some shoppers are homeless, but the great majority have homes — and jobs. After two years at the pantry, Martin has lost any sense of surprise at the gamut of people who show up there. “It’s anybody and everybody,” she says. “Any age, any demographic, any cultural background.”
“They can pick up the food they want depending on the size of their family,” says Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, executive director of Friends in Deed. “They get 15 to 18 pounds of fresh produce, bread, meat or fish, desserts, whatever we have that week.”
The idea is that they will leave with a week’s worth of healthy food, he says. About 130 volunteers stock shelves and assist shoppers. Their longevity is a factor in the pantry’s success. “[Volunteers] are here for a long time,” says Tim Nistler, the food pantry’s director for almost 13 years. “We all work very well together, and that helps strengthen the core of what we’re doing.”
Friends in Deed House, the building that houses the food pantry, was built in 1978. It’s also home to a daytime program where homeless and vulnerable women can find shelter, food, showers and case management services.
Support From Government
Friends in Deed has strong relationships with local government. About a third of its funding comes from the city of Pasadena, Grater says. It receives some support through county sales tax increases voters have authorized to fund homeless services.
Federal funding isn’t a big part of the food pantry’s support network. Donations by community members and the business community are, however. It partners with grocery stores, farmer’s markets and groups that collect fruit from backyard trees.
Donations have increased as the potential SNAP funding halt has fueled uncertainty and anxiety.
“We have had overwhelming response by the community,” Nistler says. “There are crates and crates filled with stuff that came in over the weekend.” Two Amazon trucks had arrived with donated food the day he spoke to Governing, and another two or three were promised.
Nistler doesn’t expect the need for supplemental food to decrease no matter what happens with the current SNAP crisis. “Some of the folks who are coming now are going to think this could happen again, there could be cuts to other programs,” Nistler says. “They’re not going to be here just long enough for SNAP to come back, they’re going to be regulars.”
The Problem Is Here
The government shutdown isn’t the only reason people could lose access to SNAP. Congress enacted a $186 billion cut in SNAP funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Administrative challenges that come with new work requirements for food stamps could cause Americans who are eligible for them to lose some (or all) of their benefits. A requirement in H.R. 1 for states to cover part of SNAP program costs could also lead to benefit reductions.
The county Department of Public Social Services, which administers CalFresh, the state’s SNAP program, says it is “waiting on federal guidance” on matters such as work requirements and eligibility for lawfully present noncitizens. Some estimate that more than 200,000 L.A. County residents could lose SNAP benefits.
The Friends in Deed pantry serves seniors and others who aren’t SNAP recipients; pressures on them are increasing. Food prices rose faster than inflation and above historical averages in 2025, the USDA says, and are expected to continue to move upward in 2026. Impending cuts to Medicaid will create new stresses on family budgets.
If the shutdown extends beyond Dec. 31, county officials say that child care; the Women, Infants and Children program; CalWORKs assistance for families in need; Section 8 housing subsidies; and public housing maintenance funds will also lose funding.
The Department of Public Health will give the L.A. Regional Food Bank, which provides food to Friends in Deed, an additional $12 million to buy and distribute food across 940 sites. It will offer food assistance to students through the L.A. Unified School District and to individuals over 60 years of age at senior centers.
Grater is thankful for the support from Pasadena government, residents and foundations that allows his organization to continue to grow. “We’re a little spoiled to have legislators in local, state and national government that are aware of what we’re doing and what we need, and are very responsive,” he says.
Even so, Nistler believes that many who live in Pasadena (and elsewhere) don’t realize how many people in their community need assistance. Food insecurity isn’t just “over there,” he says — it’s right in front of them.
