Hundreds of thousands of Oregon residents could face an overwhelming challenge putting food on the table if the federal government shutdown leads to delays in the distribution of food benefits.
According to Gov. Tina Kotek, more than 750,000 Oregonians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not receive benefits after the end of this month if the shutdown continues. Kotek emphasized the vulnerability of those affected — children, older adults and people with disabilities.
Sharon Thornberry, executive director of Philomath Community Services, said local families who need help ensuring access to food are likely going to be pinching pennies.
“Most of them use up their SNAP fairly rapidly and they depend on the food pantry towards the end of the month and there’s not going to be anything to use up at a time when you’re trying to put something aside to have a Thanksgiving dinner for your family,” Thornberry said.
“So, it’s going to be less food on the table, less nutritious food on the table, because nutritious food costs more than non-nutritious food.”
The impact extends beyond empty stomachs.
“It’s a lot of stress and trauma,” she said. “And kids understand when these things are going on so it’s a trauma for the kids, too.”
SNAP benefit amounts vary depending on household size. According to an Oregon Department of Human Services official, ballpark figures as of late 2024 were $183 for individuals and $312 for a family.
Also entering the picture is a forthcoming rule requiring able-bodied adults without dependents to participate in at least 80 hours of work or other approved activities per month to continue receiving SNAP benefits. If those requirements are not met, benefits are limited to only three months in a three-year period.
“That’s another complication for SNAP recipients,” Thornberry said.
PCS has experienced an increased demand at its food pantry.
“We’ve already seen a surge — people are scared and they know it’s coming,” Thornberry said, adding that 50 people visited the food pantry one day last week, roughly double the typical number.
The timing presents additional challenges with Thanksgiving approaching.
“For a Philomath family, No. 1 is we don’t have access to food — you have to travel, so it costs you in gas to travel,” Thornberry said, noting that while gas prices have dropped slightly in recent weeks, transportation remains a barrier for local families.
Thornberry visited the Oregon Food Bank early this week and was told that food supplies are down 40%. She added that cuts to federal programs have resulted in a loss of over 20% of the Philomath Community Services food supply from Linn Benton Food Share.
“Protein is the challenge, meat is a huge challenge, and we’re at the end of the produce season so we don’t have as much fresh produce as we usually do,” she said.
Despite the mounting pressures, Thornberry said PCS is not rationing or limiting services yet.
“And it’s not my intention to do that,” she said. “For food purchase money, we’ll make it go as far as we can but we’re going to need help.”
The organization is mobilizing to meet anticipated demand.
“I would expect I’m going to start calling on volunteers who have helped us with a food drive before and see if we can get a door-to-door food drive organized pretty rapidly,” she said.
Thornberry recently returned from a two-day conference in Portland where major funders discussed their role in addressing the crisis. As a result, she is distributing a fundraising letter.
“I have been an anti-hunger and anti-poverty advocate working across Oregon, nationally and internationally for four decades,” Thornberry wrote in the letter. “I believe the current situation is the most challenging scenario we have faced in my lifetime.”
Community members who want to help have several options.
“They can write a check, they can bring us food,” Thornberry said. “Call and talk to us about what food’s more helpful, we’re happy to do that, too. Invite us to your church, invite us to your civic group, invite us to a house party.”
Volunteers are also needed for some of the organization’s programs.
“We desperately need a volunteer coordinator and we need more help in the Kids’ Kloset,” Thornberry said. “If food goes down and clothing has to go (purchasing them), it’s all a snowball effect. Once you don’t have one thing available, then it affects everything else.”
Thornberry is bracing for the possibility that food challenges will persist beyond the immediate crisis, emphasizing the need for sustained community support and adequate staffing to manage operations and reporting to funders.
Nancy’s Food Pantry and June’s Kids Kloset are open 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-noon Thursdays and 12:30-3:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month, excluding holidays. To reach PCS, call 541-929-2499.
