Keeping the Community Fed During the Government Shutdown

Due to the current government shutdown and the administration’s decision not to authorize contingency funds to extend food aid, millions of Americans will not receive their regular SNAP benefits in November, and no new benefits will be issued until the federal government reopens. According to the Oregon Food Bank, 1 in 8 Oregonians and 1 in 6 children face hunger, and these numbers are expected to worsen significantly when SNAP payments halt. There are important details for SNAP users to be aware of:

You can still use current SNAP benefits. If you have any funds on your EBT card, you can still use those benefits, even if the shutdown continues. SNAP benefits do not expire right away, so your current balance will be available while we wait for benefits to resume.

You can still use Double Up Food Bucks. No new SNAP benefits will be issued until the shutdown ends, but you may still use any remaining SNAP benefits on your card to qualify for Double Up Food Bucks at Medford Food Co-op. Any Double Up Food Bucks on your account can still be redeemed, but will expire after 60 days, as per the current program rules.

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a solid investment and an efficient, effective program. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates at least $1.50 in local economic activity. These dollars keep grocery stores open, help keep food prices lower for everybody, generate income for local farmers, create jobs, and free up dollars in lower-income households to spend on other local goods and services. The SNAP program has low administrative costs and low levels of waste, fraud, or abuse. The average participant receives $187 per month – averaging out to just a few dollars per meal for each day. Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks across the country, states that “Last year, the Feeding America network provided 6 billion meals. SNAP delivered nine times that amount, reaching millions more families.” The food bank system will not be able to fill the gap created by the loss of SNAP benefits. The SNAP program provides a valuable return on investment for our local economy, and uses our tax dollars efficiently and effectively to feed our hungry neighbors.

The Oregon Hunger Task Force was created by the State Legislature in 1989 to act as a resource within government and as a statewide advocate for Oregonians who are hungry or at risk of hunger. When the Task Force was created, the legislature declared that “All persons have the right to be free from hunger.” Here at MFC, we also believe that access to food is a fundamental human right, so we are taking several steps to help alleviate hunger in our community:

1. At the legislative level, Medford Food Co-op joined over 200 organizations across Oregon, signing a letter urging our federal leaders to use all available steps to ensure Oregonians continued access to food. We encourage you to contact your lawmakers regarding SNAP.

2. Effective immediately, we are diverting October’s Positive Change fundraiser to support our local food banks in Jackson County. All donations made through October 31st will be donated to ACCESS, and MFC is matching October’s donations with an additional $1,000. This is also a friendly reminder to our owners that your patronage dividend must be redeemed by November 30th, and you are welcome to donate it to Positive Change to help feed the need.

3. The Café is offering free cups of hot soup to-go for anyone in need, no questions asked. No need to show your Oregon Trail card or ID, just ask for a free cup of soup and we’ll take care of you. Our Café is open Monday through Friday until 6pm. One cup per day per person, so we can try to help as many people as possible.

4. We’re curating community resources and sharing information:

• SNAP Updates from ODHS: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pages/snap-updates.aspx

• Find free food:

  • Food pantries in Jackson County:

    • Searchable database from ACCESS: https://accesshelps.org/food-pantries/

    • Download a list from United Way: Food is FUNdamental

  • Food pantries in Josephine County: https://www.jocofoodbank.org/get-help/

  • Rogue Food Unites No Cost Farmers Markets: https://www.roguefoodunites.org/neighbors-unite-schedule-and-locations

  • Oregon Food Bank Food Finder: https://foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org/

• If you have the resources to give, please do:

  • ACCESS: https://accesshelps.org/donations/

  • United Way: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/739050/donate

  • Rogue Valley Good Food Fund: https://donorbox.org/embed/create-a-thriving-food-system-for-all

  • Oregon Food Bank: https://secure.oregonfoodbank.org/a/rapid

The most vulnerable members of our community need our support right now. If you are able to help, please consider donating to the food bank in your neighborhood, and advocating for everyone’s right to be free from hunger.

References
https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/posts/snap-disruption-would-have-devastating-consequences-for-oregonians
https://www.feedingamerica.org/advocate/snap
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-is-snap-and-why-does-it-matter
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research