From Our CEO: The End of the Shutdown Begins A Long Road to Recovery

Though the record-long government shutdown may be over, its impact on families facing hunger will last for weeks or even months as people recover from disrupted paychecks and grocery budgets.

Community members came together all across the state to ensure federal workers, military personnel, and people who rely on government services had access to food throughout the shutdown. Families who went without SNAP grocery support for weeks were able to turn to our network of local pantries and meal sites for help. Lines queued longer than anything we've seen since the peak of the pandemic. And as the Food Bank's CEO noted, the shutdown may have been a small preview of the challenges to come as massive cuts to federal safety nets loom. 

The longest shutdown in US history has finally come to a close, but the road to recovery is just beginning. Here at the Food Bank, food is available to all who need it. Our network of over 700 pantries, no-cost markets, and meal sites are moving mountains to provide food for impacted families.  

 We are so grateful for our community showing up for neighbors in need. Every food drive, volunteer shift, and donation provided nutritious meals for families during the government shutdown. Now more than ever, we are truly a community-fueled network. 

 Generosity is what’s keeping us afloat during the greatest hunger crisis in a generation. Families faced drastic cuts to SNAP during the government shutdown. Most received 50% or less of their usual support — a preview of the deep cuts Congress has set for this time next year.  

This is not an isolated challenge; communities have faced cut after cut from Washington this year. In March, $30+ million in federal food purchase funding disappeared overnight, and all the food we usually receive locally went with it. And due to the state budget impasse, we don’t expect to see any of the usual resources from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture until 2026 — if ever. 

The shutdown is ending, but the fight continues. Our hunger relief network is working tirelessly to meet the increased need, with hundreds of partner pantries and thousands of volunteers stepping up to help. But we cannot replace SNAP. For every meal we give, SNAP provides nine. Our neighbors can’t wait. We have to keep SNAP strong and fully funded for North Carolina families.” 

– 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.