Around this time last year, a federal budget impasse led to a government shutdown that interrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps) benefits. As a result, 42 million Americans went without their SNAP benefits in early November.
At that time, our Pantry was overwhelmed by the generosity of the community. We even had to rent a storage pod to hold all the food that was donated to us! It was a tremendous blessing, especially because we saw a large increase in Pantry use over that period. During that time, Pantry participation increased 18% more than in the previous months, with many households using the Pantry for the first time.
So, what’s happened with SNAP and the Pantry since then? Many SNAP benefits were restored when the shutdown ended. However, because of the passage of H.R. 1 in July 2025, there are now 6.3 million fewer people able to access SNAP than in 2025. According to the Food Research Action Council, this number includes about 2 million children. In Pennsylvania, that translates to about 231,000 people who have lost their benefits, including 60,000 children. Some of the reasons for this drop include new and expanded work requirements, as well as the inability to get through the red tape of the SNAP application and approval process due to decreased funding and fewer case workers.
In our own community, this drop in SNAP enrollment has had an impact on our Pantry usage. As of October, there are 25% more households at our Pantry than a year ago. These households include seniors, families, folks who are disabled, and many of our Valley neighbors who are working, but are struggling to afford housing, groceries, and gas. Because of the many changes in SNAP requirements, families who might normally apply for and receive SNAP are no longer eligible.
At the same time, the Pantry has not seen the abundance of donations that it did a year ago. Please don’t misunderstand - our community is still incredibly generous. It just takes more food to support 25% more households. The price of gas and groceries has also had an impact on everyone’s budgets, including the wonderful souls who kindly bring bags of food to us whenever they can.
As I’ve mentioned in other blogs, SNAP is the number one way that we can alleviate hunger in the U.S. For every 9 meals SNAP provides, pantries can provide one. However, the reality now is that because SNAP is no longer available to many of those in need, food pantries are being called on to do and provide more. Rather than being just an emergency resource, we are now providing food for working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and others in need regularly. We don’t just fill in the gaps. We are now a main source of food for those who cannot get enough nutritional food on a daily basis.
To respond, pantries like ours are stepping up. We are responding with flexible, participant-focused options, including grocery delivery, online ordering, and expanded Pantry hours. We are also building relationships with farmers and food distributors and advocating for a stronger network to ensure that everyone has enough to eat.
Still, the fear in the back of our minds is one that many pantries are also struggling with right now – do we feed more people less food, or do we feed less people with more food? Turning folks away is not something that sits well with us, so we are adapting and taking action with a little faith and a lot of ingenuity.
We know that even with the nimblest response, we cannot do this alone. We need your help. Here are a few ways you can help us keep our Pantry open and available to each of our most vulnerable neighbors right now:
- Participate in Scouting for Food. This is The Open Link’s largest food drive and takes place on Saturday, November 21. The week before, Scouts will be placing hangers on eligible household doors throughout the community, reminding folks to set out a bag of food for the drive. On the morning of the 21st, they will pick up donations at each home and deliver them to our Pantry. That same morning, scouts will also be at Redner’s and Weis so that you can drop off food right outside the grocery store. Last year, this food drive collected more than 14,000 pounds of food! It was a record-setting year and helped feed families well into April. Let’s do it again this year!
- Host a food drive. Our website has a Food Drive Tool Kit where you can request boxes, get information on most needed items, and coordinate with our Pantry for receipt of food. Having a party or event? Put out a box and ask friends, family, coworkers, and those you know to bring a can or a box of non-perishable food. A little can go a long way in helping our neighbors.
- Volunteer. The Pantry and our entire organization are busy places this time of year, and an extra pair of hands is always appreciated. The Pantry is now open on Tuesday nights as well! If you can’t get here during the day, speak with Katherine, our Volunteer Coordinator, about other opportunities to volunteer by emailing volunteers@theopenlink.org or calling 215-679-4112.
- Donate. We can use your donations to purchase food, run the Pantry, and coordinate other services for Valley families who are struggling. Your gift stays right here in the Upper Perk Valley and goes a long way in creating a supportive, sustainable community.
- Advocate. It is important to share our concerns about our neighbors having enough to eat with our public policy makers. Please contact your representatives and tell them that it is important to support both SNAP and our local pantry system.
Thank you for support, especially during this upcoming holiday season! We couldn’t do our work without you.
