What to expect from the government shutdown — and action you can take to help end it

The end of the government shutdown is here after 43 days of uncertainty for North Carolina families. Community members came together all across the state to ensure federal and military workers have access to food during the government shutdown. The impact on families facing hunger will last for weeks or even months as families wait for paychecks and full SNAP benefits. Food Bank CEO Amy Beros discusses the ongoing fight for vital safety nets while even more federal cuts are on the horizon.  

Cuts to lifelines like SNAP and Medicaid passed this summer are already straining families who were barely making ends meet and rolling them back is critical to preventing an even deeper hunger crisis. While no one wants a long-term shutdown that creates uncertainty for thousands of families, the real crisis is the ongoing assault on programs that have long protected children, seniors, veterans, and working families. We urge congressional leaders to rescind these cuts immediately and restore full funding to SNAP and Medicaid.

– Amy Beros, Food Bank President & CEO

Communities across North Carolina are facing the worst hunger crisis in a generation. 

More than 607,000 people in our region — 1 in 7 of our neighbors — don’t know where their next meal might come from. These are not distant statistics; these are the people we pass in the grocery store, at school pick-up, or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. The massive cuts to lifelines like SNAP and Medicaid that are at the center of the shutdown are straining families who were barely making ends meet. Unless rolled back, these cuts will deepen our already urgent hunger crisis. 

Make a difference today for neighbors who have lost income and grocery support during the shutdown.