Two Weeks Without Food Aid Left New Yorkers Struggling to Cope
The recent two-week shutdown of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in New York City has left many struggling with food insecurity, and the full extent of its damage is still being felt.
For 1.8 million people who rely on monthly assistance to buy groceries, the disruption was particularly challenging. Most recipients are vulnerable populations such as children and older adults, who often turn to food pantries or soup kitchens for support during lean times. The shutdown forced many to seek out these resources for the first time, adding to their already-heavy burdens.
Food pantries were overwhelmed with calls and visits, and some reported running out of food. Organizations serving New Yorkers in shelters or those with mental illness had to launch emergency fundraising campaigns and recruit volunteers to help keep up with demand.
The effects of the shutdown are still being felt, with many recipients struggling to catch up on their finances. One recipient, Alvin Copeland, described how he used his savings to pay bills while waiting for his benefits to be reinstated, but is now facing a financial crunch as he tries to get back on track.
"It threw everything off because the month is almost over soon," Copeland said. "I got rent coming up again. Con Edison, cable, phone bill. Now I got to figure out how I'm going to get cash to put everything back on top again."
Grocery store managers reported a significant drop in sales during the first week of November, with some stores losing as much as 20%-25% in revenue. While some retailers covered customers' expenses when they could, many are still feeling the impact.
Food policy advocates are also warning that new work requirements may kick people off SNAP by March, exacerbating existing food insecurity challenges.
"The damage is done already," said Copeland, echoing concerns from other recipients and advocacy groups. The shutdown has left a lasting impression on many New Yorkers, who are struggling to trust the system again.
As the city tries to rebuild its social safety net, advocates are calling for more support for vulnerable populations and greater protections against similar disruptions in the future.
The recent two-week shutdown of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in New York City has left many struggling with food insecurity, and the full extent of its damage is still being felt.
For 1.8 million people who rely on monthly assistance to buy groceries, the disruption was particularly challenging. Most recipients are vulnerable populations such as children and older adults, who often turn to food pantries or soup kitchens for support during lean times. The shutdown forced many to seek out these resources for the first time, adding to their already-heavy burdens.
Food pantries were overwhelmed with calls and visits, and some reported running out of food. Organizations serving New Yorkers in shelters or those with mental illness had to launch emergency fundraising campaigns and recruit volunteers to help keep up with demand.
The effects of the shutdown are still being felt, with many recipients struggling to catch up on their finances. One recipient, Alvin Copeland, described how he used his savings to pay bills while waiting for his benefits to be reinstated, but is now facing a financial crunch as he tries to get back on track.
"It threw everything off because the month is almost over soon," Copeland said. "I got rent coming up again. Con Edison, cable, phone bill. Now I got to figure out how I'm going to get cash to put everything back on top again."
Grocery store managers reported a significant drop in sales during the first week of November, with some stores losing as much as 20%-25% in revenue. While some retailers covered customers' expenses when they could, many are still feeling the impact.
Food policy advocates are also warning that new work requirements may kick people off SNAP by March, exacerbating existing food insecurity challenges.
"The damage is done already," said Copeland, echoing concerns from other recipients and advocacy groups. The shutdown has left a lasting impression on many New Yorkers, who are struggling to trust the system again.
As the city tries to rebuild its social safety net, advocates are calling for more support for vulnerable populations and greater protections against similar disruptions in the future.
food insecurity is a huge issue in our country and we need to do more to help these ppl out 
grocery stores should have been prepared for the shutdown too, not just rely on customers to pay their bills 
some good news tho, there are ppl like Alvin who are making fundraising campaigns happen 
let's keep spreading awareness about food insecurity and support our fellow humans who need it most 
People who rely on SNAP are already struggling to make ends meet, and now they're being forced to go to food pantries and soup kitchens. It's just not right.
. I'm all for making people work hard, but come on, we gotta help those who can't help themselves. This shutdown was a huge mistake, and now people are paying the price.
. When you're struggling to put food on the table, everything else falls apart. It's like, how can we expect people to be healthy and happy if they're going hungry? 
. We need to step up our game and support those who need it most. This is just another example of how broken our system can be 
.
They're already talking about March being when people will get kicked off SNAP because of these new work requirements... like, who even comes up with these rules?! 
I mean, I know some people might say it's all about personal responsibility and getting back on your feet, but come on... we live in a city with one of the highest costs of living in the country! You can't just expect people to figure everything out. 
. I mean, imagine not knowing where your next meal is coming from... it's like, what even is that 
. We need 2 rethink our social safety net system ASAP! 
More support for vulnerable populations is needed, like, now 
. This shutdown was a major wake-up call, and we gotta make sure it doesn't happen again 
. Let's get food aid back on track and prioritize those who need it most 
!
food insecurity is no joke & it's even harder when ur relyin on gov benefits to get by. 
these grocery stores r still seein the effects of dat shutdown, like a 20-25% drop in sales 
& ppl r strugglein 2 make ends meet 
& greater protections against these kinda disruptions in the future 
. it's not just about throwin money at the problem tho, we gotta address the root causes of food insecurity too 
️. 1.8 million people can't afford groceries 
because of a shutdown 
. They're stuck between a rock and a hard place 
. It's like they never had options before 
, and now they're struggling to pay bills 
. Grocery store managers are also feeling the pinch 
. That'll just make things worse 
. It's time to get this system back on track 
.
this is insane! two weeks without food aid is just not right, especially when you gotta pay bills too 
. And now with these new work requirements, it's like they're being left high and dry 
Sources on this would be great, btw... how do we know the full extent of the damage?
. grocery store sales dropped significantly and some stores were losing up to 25% of revenue, that's devastating 