Across the United States, food banks are seeing an unprecedented surge in demand as families grapple with the suspension and delay of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. From the sun-drenched streets of Cave Creek, Arizona, to the bustling corners of Palm Beach County, Florida, and all the way to the heart of Ohio, food pantries are stretched thin, volunteers are scrambling, and families are left in limbo—unsure when, or if, relief will come.
In Cave Creek, Arizona, the Foothills Food Bank has witnessed a dramatic one-third increase in demand over the past few weeks, a spike attributed to both the soaring cost of groceries and the abrupt halt of SNAP benefits. SNAP recipients had anticipated renewed support on November 7, 2025, but a protracted legal battle has left them waiting. As a result, many are turning to food banks for immediate assistance. Leigh Zynodik of the Foothills Food Bank described the shifting landscape: "Since we moved to this location four months ago, we are seeing a lot more younger families along the I-17 corridor, the smaller apartments, we are seeing that demographic grow as well."
For clients like Maria, who relies on the food bank to feed several family members on a fixed income, the rising cost of groceries has made even basic meals a challenge. "It helps me to subsidize whatever we don’t have at home, especially with the increase of food. everything went up," she explained to local news outlets. Community donors, like Judy, are stepping up to help bridge the gap, but their frustration is palpable. "The cost of food, average people can’t afford it, so I wanna give what I can," Judy said. "The people in charge of our government are treating the people who voted for them very poorly."
Despite a recent announcement from Arizona’s governor that the state is working with the USDA to revive the SNAP program, no concrete date has been given for when benefits will resume. Until then, the community’s safety net is being stretched further with each passing day.
The situation is strikingly similar in Palm Beach County, Florida, where the Palm Beach County Food Bank, in partnership with United Way of Palm Beach County, hosted its first large-scale food distribution event on November 7, 2025. The organization prepared boxes of groceries for about 1,000 families, but the need far exceeded what was available. Cars began lining up as early as 6 o’clock in the morning, and as supplies ran out, volunteers scrambled to help those still arriving.
Jamie Kendall, CEO of the Palm Beach County Food Bank, captured the urgency: "We had people lined up at 6 o’clock this morning." The strain on resources is being felt acutely, with delays in November SNAP funding, fears of a federal government shutdown, and broader economic struggles all converging to create a perfect storm. "It is wreaking havoc on a lot of folks that rely on the safety net to put food on the table," Kendall said.
For families like that of Dianna Torres, the struggle is personal and immediate. Torres, who drove from Sunrise to Lake Worth for the food distribution, shared, "With two teenage girls, myself and then my mother, it’s hard. It is very hard." Having recently lost her job and still waiting for unemployment benefits, she added, "It is very tough because I’m still waiting on unemployment and it hasn’t kicked in, and I’m trying to get odd jobs."
About 160,000 people in Palm Beach County—roughly one in ten residents—rely on SNAP to make ends meet, according to local officials. Bill Harper, senior director of operations at Boca Helping Hands, noted, "We knew we were gonna see additional demand for our services, but it’s really exceeded our expectations." The community response has been heartening, with donations of nonperishable food and monetary contributions pouring in, especially as the holiday season approaches. "I’ve received like eight phone calls this morning from people wanting to get involved," Harper said.
Meanwhile, in Ohio, the challenges are compounded by both federal delays and state-level funding cuts. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) has seen a surge in demand at local pantries as SNAP benefits remain delayed and only partially funded during the ongoing government shutdown. The NNEMAP Food Pantry, located near the Ohio State Fairgrounds, had its busiest day ever on November 4, 2025, serving up to 285 people—a record since its founding in the 1950s. Executive Director Roy Clark described the situation: "There's been days which are almost unheard of here that we ran out totally of vegetables, you know, and that's just almost unheard of because we do try to supplement with a local distributor as well."
State lawmakers have cut MOFC funding by $3 million over two years, reducing weekly shipments of fruits and vegetables from 13 pallets to 10. MOFC, which services 600 food pantries across 20 counties in central Ohio, is prioritizing high-cost items like eggs, milk, protein, and fresh produce—foods that become especially difficult for families to afford when SNAP is unavailable.
The uncertainty is compounded by a tangled web of legal and political wrangling. A federal court sided with several plaintiffs, including the city of Columbus, ordering the Trump administration to pay for SNAP benefits using contingency funds, but the administration has announced plans to appeal. As of November 7, 2025, none of the 1.4 million Ohioans who rely on SNAP—170,000 in Franklin County alone—are receiving November benefits. Mike Hochron, spokesman for MOFC, described the situation as a "rollercoaster ride," adding, "We simply don't know when benefits might arrive or how much people might receive. What we know is none of them are currently getting November benefits."
While state and local governments have announced some funding to help food banks, Hochron was blunt: "Those together are less than 5%. What we're gonna receive is less than 5% of a single month's benefits for the families in our region." The federal government typically provides about $55 million in SNAP benefits for the region each month, far outstripping the capacity of state and local aid.
Despite the daunting challenges, communities are rallying. Donations to MOFC and local pantries are up, and grassroots efforts—like neighborhood blessing boxes—are helping fill the gaps. Still, food pantry staff are urging patience as lines grow longer and supplies are stretched thin. "We also want to be realistic that we're going to expect longer lines. And a real stretch on the food that's available for each person's cart in the coming weeks. So we encourage people to be patient with pantry staff, patient with lines," Hochron said.
Across the country, these stories echo a common refrain: families are struggling, food banks are straining to meet demand, and the fate of millions hinges on the restoration of SNAP benefits. Until then, communities are doing what they can—but the need has never been greater, nor the uncertainty more profound.
