Federal shutdown affects families who rely on FoodShare benefits

Delays in November payments expected

Local families are facing delayed FoodShare payments for the month of November as the government shutdown drags on.

This means additional strain on families who are struggling to get by — approximately 700,000 in the state will be affected. According to data available on the Wisconsin Department of Health (DHS) website, in 2024, an average of 1,680 families in Vilas County families received $238,672 per month in FoodShare payments, and more than $2.1 million per year. In Oneida County, there were an average of 3,441 families receiving $486,789 monthly and over $4.3 million per year.

Information made available on the DHS website says that due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, November benefits for FoodShare members will be delayed, as the benefits are 100% federally funded.

No payments will be made until the government shutdown is over and payments can be resumed.

Local leaders in the battle against food insecurity are working to navigate the uncertainty.

“When you combine benefit cuts with current economic uncertainty like we are experiencing now, I can say we are extremely worried about how this plays out for local families and for Feed Our Rural Kids,” said Perry Pokrandt, president of Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK). “There is no local organization that can fill the potential gap in food support created by elimination of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits on a month to month basis.”

FORK announced this week it will provide funding to families being affected by the shutdown. (See related story on 1A.)

Northland Pines District Administrator Scott Foster said he is thankful we live in a generous and supportive community that has and will step up as the need increases with food insecurity, but notes that it is still difficult to navigate with the rapid changes.

“Anything with the federal government recently has been hard to balance news and facts,” Foster said. “In addition to the shutdown it has been even more challenging for school and other leaders.”

The district received a letter last week from the Bureau of School Nutrition that said students who currently are eligible for free meals based on their household participation in FoodShare will continue to be eligible for free meals served in the USDA school nutrition programs into the next school year.

Foster said this is helpful to know for local families who can remain listed as free- or reduced-meal eligible until the end of the school year and beyond. “It’s just a lot going on, and trying to work through it all as it changes so rapidly.”

Local pantries available to help

Payment delays may be looming, but so far, local food pantry heads haven’t seen much difference in pantry usage.

Doe Muench, co-director of Three Lakes Christian Food Pantry said that while use has stayed the same, the pantry is available to anyone who needs it.
“So far, we have not seen an increase in the use of our pantry nor have we heard from any families in our area that need extra help and would need to use the pantry for the first time,” Muench said. “We have signs throughout town letting people know where we are located, our days and hours of distribution and a contact number for emergency food.”

Paul Scheffield of Headwaters Food Pantry in Land O’ Lakes called it “business as usual,” saying that he’s seen no real change. “This year we’ve had some new families sign up, but we had a few others stop coming. I’d say that our numbers are relatively unchanged though.”

In Arbor Vitae, Lorna Springate, director of the Lakeland Area Food Pantry, told WXPR that she expects the number of pantry users to grow if FoodShare benefits are delayed next month. Lakeland’s pantry serves approximately 3,000 people per month.

DHS Secretary Kristen Johnson said the pause on payments could also affect Quest electronic benefit cards, including funds that remain on the card at the end of October. She recommends that people stock up on nonperishable canned or boxed items before the end of the month in preparation.

While FoodShare is being impacted, other state programs including Women, Infants and Children (WIC), BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid and SeniorCare are not affected by the shutdown.

Contact your reps

Both sides have bandied the blame for the shutdown.

Last week, Gov. Tony Evers and Sen. Tammy Baldwin both called on the USDA to release funds to pay for SNAP benefits. According to Baldwin, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.

“In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance,” she said in a letter to the USDA.

Evers said in his weekly radio address, “Empty cupboards and stomachs are not abstract outcomes, folks. They are a very real and near consequence of the dysfunction in Washington. It’s why, this week, I asked the Trump Administration to use readily available federal funding to help make sure Wisconsinites can continue to access basic food necessities for as long as we can.”

On a local level, FORK’s Perry Pokrandt said one thing residents can do is contact their local representatives.

“It is imperative that our congressional representative Tom Tiffany speaks up for the food insecure families he represents — especially for the kids! You can not play chicken with food support needed to ensure the health and happiness of our kids,” he said.

Foster concurred, saying “I always encourage community members to reach out to all their representatives. We live in a country where our voices should matter. Unfortunately kids tend to get caught up and become the losers when adult conflict and issues arise.”

Rep. Tom Tiffany can be reached by calling 202-225-3365; Sen. Tammy Baldwin, 202-224-5653; and Sen. Ron Johnson, 202-224-5323.

Those struggling to buy food can call the Family Food Helpline at 888-479-FORK (3675) or visit feedourruralkids.org/get-help/ to find local resources.