PORTLAND, Ore. — As the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, anxiety is mounting across Oregon. With federal agencies shuttered for 22 days and counting, nearly 800,000 Oregonians who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could lose their benefits as early as next month.
Food Pantries Prepare for a Surge
At the Sunshine Division in Portland, shelves fill and empty in a matter of hours as volunteers rush to meet growing needs. The organization, which provides emergency food boxes and pantry access, is bracing for a surge in families seeking help if SNAP benefits are halted.
“These are the families that we see every day — moms with kids, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans with disabilities, and people who simply can’t work full time,” said Kyle Camberg, the Sunshine Division’s executive director. “When that money doesn’t exist for the communities, we really don’t know what those families are going to do but turn to places like ours.”
Also Read
Camberg said he’d anticipated reductions in federal benefits next year, but not a complete disruption this soon. “We heard that benefits would likely be reduced in 2025,” he explained. “But we didn’t expect that nearly 800,000 people in Oregon might suddenly go without next month.”
Growing Uncertainty for Families
For families like Justina Russell’s, the uncertainty is overwhelming. Russell, a Portland mother of four — soon to be five — relies on roughly $1,000 a month in SNAP benefits to feed her children.
“That money goes fast,” she said. “We’ve got communities here, we’ve got pantries, and sometimes family members help out, but it’s hard to keep up.”
Russell’s story is one of many across Oregon, where families already struggling with high grocery prices and housing costs are now unsure how they’ll afford basic necessities if the shutdown continues.
A Widening Ripple Effect
Food banks and charities across the state are preparing for an influx of people needing emergency food assistance. The Oregon Food Bank has been coordinating with local partners to make sure no one goes hungry.
“The federal government shutdown continues with no clear end in sight,” said Sammi Teo, public policy advocate at the Oregon Food Bank. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that if the shutdown lasts past October 31st, November SNAP and WIC benefits may be disrupted.”
Teo emphasized that, regardless of federal action, Oregon Food Bank locations remain open. “We are committed to ensuring food is available for everyone who needs it,” she said.
Community Support Stretched Thin
Camberg noted that Sunshine Division’s operations aren’t funded by the federal government or the state of Oregon. Instead, the organization relies on donations from local residents, businesses, and community partners.
“We’re not a government-funded agency,” he said. “We rely on our community to help keep our shelves full. That’s what makes us resilient — but it also means when demand spikes, it’s the local community that has to carry that weight.”
In anticipation of greater demand, Sunshine Division has been extending its hours and expanding outreach to reach more families. “We’ve already increased service over the past few weeks,” Camberg said. “And that need isn’t going to disappear when the shutdown ends — it’s going to continue long after.”
The Human Cost of a Political Stalemate
The shutdown, triggered by a budget impasse in Washington, has already furloughed thousands of federal workers and disrupted numerous public services. But for families living paycheck to paycheck, the suspension of SNAP benefits would be one of the most devastating consequences yet.
As Oregon’s food assistance network braces for the fallout, community organizations are urging residents to donate food, funds, or volunteer time to help fill the gap.
Camberg put it simply: “The shutdown may be political, but hunger isn’t. Every day this goes on, more families are pushed to the edge.”
With no clear resolution in sight, Oregon’s food banks and families continue to wait — uncertain of what the next month will bring, but preparing for the worst.
