SNAP Shutdown Sparks Widespread Anxiety
For Alicia Rogers, a 39-year-old single mother of two in Portland, the monthly arrival of $191 in SNAP benefits is her lifeline. Each month, the money disappears almost instantly on groceries for her family. But this month, her fridge sits nearly empty as a federal government shutdown threatens to halt assistance for 757,000 Oregonians.
“The first shopping trip, it’s gone,” Rogers said. “Now I don’t even know if I’ll be able to shop at all.”
Although two federal judges recently ordered the Trump administration to continue issuing benefits despite the shutdown, uncertainty still looms. Rogers fears her funds could be delayed or reduced if federal reserves run dry.
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“Nervous, worried, stressed, overwhelmed,” she said, listing the emotions she’s been battling as she wonders how to feed her 9- and 15-year-old children.
Crowds Grow at Portland Food Pantry
Outside Sunshine Division, a Southeast Portland food pantry, the number of visitors has surged. Dozens of people arrived Friday, many by bus or on foot, desperate to stock up before potential cuts take effect on Nov. 1.
By early afternoon, a line of a dozen people stretched outside. Some wept; others stared silently, unsure how they would get by. A man who hadn’t eaten all day left clutching grocery bags, drinking juice the moment he stepped outside — his first nourishment in hours.
Inside, staffers like Priscilla Van Der Rest, the pantry’s manager, filled boxes with apples, onions, macaroni, and flaxseed — essentials for families running out of options.
Older Oregonians Hit Hard
A retired Portland couple, ages 70 and 78, said they had just seven cents left on their SNAP card. Normally, their $340 in monthly benefits barely cover groceries, but now, with no refill expected, they’re bracing for the worst.
“We’re so angry at both parties,” the husband said. “We’re Democrats, but we’re switching to Independents.”
The couple, living on $2,040 in Social Security, said rent eats up 75% of their income. “There’s no extras,” the woman added. “Ice cream is our splurge.”
Struggling Families and Small Joys
For Lisa Thompson, who lives with her 75-year-old mother, even birthdays are a luxury. They couldn’t afford a cake for her mother’s celebration last week. But during her visit to Sunshine Division, she found a black forest cake among the donations.
“I’m very grateful,” she said, packing bread, chicken, and other staples into a suitcase with the help of a volunteer. Thompson is recovering from serious injuries after being attacked and can’t work, leaving her to depend solely on $293 in monthly food assistance.
“I need my food stamps,” she said. “We’re barely making it.”
Parents Sacrificing Meals for Children
Across town, Jessica Bostick faces a similar struggle. Her $390 in monthly SNAP benefits disappear by mid-month, forcing her to skip dinner so her three children — ages 9, 17, and 20 — can eat.
Her children heard at school that the shutdown might delay benefits and came home frightened.
“My son at night cries,” Bostick said softly. “He goes, ‘I’m so worried.’”
Thursday night, the family ate French toast for dinner until the bread ran out. On Friday, the box she picked up from Sunshine Division included three loaves — enough for at least a few days of meals.
Uncertain Days Ahead
Across Oregon, fear and frustration are mounting as families brace for potential benefit delays. For many, SNAP is the difference between eating and going hungry.
As Rogers put it while standing in the food pantry parking lot, “I’ve worked hard my whole life. I just want to make sure my kids don’t go to bed hungry. That’s all I want.”
