The United States is facing a mounting hunger crisis, as a cascade of federal cuts and a prolonged government shutdown threaten to leave millions without access to basic food assistance. Across the country, from North Carolina to Colorado and Iowa, communities are rallying to fill the growing gaps left by shrinking government support, but the scale of the challenge is daunting and deeply personal for those affected.
On October 23, 2025, the North Carolina State Fair hosted its 23rd annual Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day, a tradition that combines the festive spirit of the fair with a powerful community response to hunger. Visitors who donated six cans or packages of non-perishable food received free admission—a simple gesture with a significant impact. According to WTVD, last year’s event generated over 211,000 pounds of food, enough to provide 175,000 meals. Organizers hope this year’s donations will reach at least 150,000 meals, but the stakes are higher than ever.
“It’s just rewarding to be a part of that. You know, agriculture is at the core of what we do here in North Carolina and being able to give food to people in need...that in and of itself is very rewarding,” said Kraig Westerbeek of Smithfield Foods. The event, a partnership between Smithfield Foods, the State Fair, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, is now the largest single-day food drive in the state.
But as Amy Beros, President & CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, explained, this year’s drive carries added urgency. “With the government shutdown and the concerns about SNAP and we’re not being funded after the end of this month, we’re seeing heightened need and so much heightened fear in our community. And so a day like this to bring awareness to that as well as to raise the much needed food is truly phenomenal and critical right now,” she told WTVD.
The pressure on food banks is not unique to North Carolina. In Colorado, the looming cutoff of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits has sent shockwaves through the community. On October 22, 2025, Governor Jared Polis stood before reporters at the Governor’s Mansion in Denver, urging Coloradans to step up. “We have a role to play to fill the gap created by the closure of the federal government, and so do you,” Polis said, as reported by The Denver Post. “So let’s work together to make sure that no one goes hungry in the state of Colorado during this difficult time of the federal shutdown.”
The numbers are stark: more than 600,000 low-income Coloradans—half of whom are children—rely on SNAP benefits each month. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture halting payments as of November 1, 2025, the state stands to lose $120 million in monthly federal support. Polis has requested $10 million in state aid for food banks, estimating that the money could stretch to $30 million or $40 million in food purchases thanks to food banks’ ability to buy in bulk at discounted rates. To lead by example, he donated $500 of his own money to the cause.
Yet, as Erin Pulling, president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Rockies, put it, the situation is a “crisis within a crisis.” Food banks are already stretched thin by a slowing economy, furloughed federal workers, and recent changes to SNAP eligibility. “This is a gap that, realistically, I don’t know how we will close,” Pulling said. “We need the type of outpouring of philanthropic support that we saw during the height of COVID.”
The state’s Joint Budget Committee is expected to approve the $10 million request, but political tensions are running high over the root causes and solutions. State Sen. Jeff Bridges, chair of the committee, blamed the federal shutdown on Republican lawmakers, warning that “struggling families in Colorado won’t receive the support they desperately need.” Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer criticized the state’s response as too little, too late, but still planned to vote for the aid, saying, “We all need to help people find food. Nobody in the state thinks that’s a bad idea and no one on the JBC thinks that’s a bad idea.”
While state-level responses attempt to cushion the blow, the crisis is compounded by recent federal decisions that have quietly undermined the nation’s hunger safety net. In Iowa, the problem is twofold: not only are federal SNAP benefits being cut, but many eligible seniors are not enrolled in the program at all. According to the National Council on Aging, an estimated 83% of Iowans over age 65—about 90,000 people—are eligible for SNAP but not enrolled. The reasons are complex, ranging from the stigma of accepting aid and confusing application processes to a deep-seated sense of pride.
“Our seniors are fairly proud and private. They don’t want others to know their business,” said Jodi Rushing, treasurer of the Creston Area Food Bank, as reported by the Des Moines Register. Many, like 71-year-old John Fredrickson, simply “squeeze by” each month, supplementing meager incomes with food pantry visits and backyard gardens. Others, such as Carolyn Bird, have never even heard of SNAP, or believe they’d be taking resources away from someone more needy.
The situation is poised to worsen. The federal spending bill passed in summer 2025 eliminated funding for SNAP-related nutrition education programs (SNAP-Ed) and ended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Household Food Security reports, making it harder to even track the problem. “Halting data collection and reporting on food insecurity will not make this growing problem disappear,” the Iowa Hunger Coalition warned on its website.
Food pantry leaders like Patty Sneddon-Kisting, CEO of the Urbandale Food Pantry, see the human toll firsthand. “Hunger is rarely about food and more about impossible decisions that families have to make,” she explained. With demand at her pantry more than doubling in just two years, the need is outpacing resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced SNAP benefits helped, but those have now reverted to pre-pandemic levels, leaving many to rely on charity.
Efforts are underway to make SNAP more accessible in Iowa, such as eliminating interviews for certain seniors and disabled adults, but systemic barriers remain. The state has also struggled with high payment error rates and slow processing times, leading to federal fines and the threat of further funding reductions. Advocates like Luke Elzinga, chair of the food pantry network DMARC, argue that investments in technology and staff are needed to fix these issues, but warn that such spending is a tough sell in tight budget times.
As the holiday season approaches, food banks across the country are bracing for a surge in need. High-demand items—peanut butter, canned meats, dried fruits, and protein bars—are flying off shelves. Volunteers and donors are stepping up, but the uncertainty around federal support looms large. The message from those on the front lines is clear: community action is vital, but it cannot replace the scale and stability of government assistance.
With the nation’s hunger safety net fraying, millions of Americans are left wondering how they will put food on the table in the months ahead. The resilience and generosity of local communities are on full display, but the question remains—how long can they hold the line?
