As the federal government shutdown drags on and the Trump administration limits American's access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), local aid groups across the RI region are stepping in. New meal programs, pantry expansions, and county funding are being cobbled together in real time to help bridge the gap created by the vital national service being used as a political football. 

At Canoe Hill in Millbrook, chef-owner Mike DelGrosso is opening his doors every Tuesday from 5-7pm for a free community dinner “to help those in need or anyone who wants a meal,” he says. “Since the SNAP benefits have ended, a lot of people will be unable to buy food, and we want to help however we can.”

DelGrosso isn’t alone. In a community defined by its farm and food culture, a growing coalition is coming together to support those being denied their right to eat. The list of aid organizations below is not comprehensive, but represents many of the primary avenues for assistance across the region.  

Volunteers at Columbia Kitchen pack hundreds of meals a day for delivery and community refrigerators across Columbia County, part of a growing grassroots effort to fight food insecurity as federal safety nets shrink. Photo by Elizabeth Griffin

Dutchess County, NY

Dutchess County has committed up to $1.5 million-$150,000 per week for up to 10 weeks—to bolster local food pantries if the disruption persists. County Executive Sue Serino and Legislature Chairman Will Truitt announced the plan on October 31, noting coordination with the County Food Security Council and Dutchess Outreach. “Hunger is a human issue; no one should go hungry because of politics,” a release announcing the funding says. Residents in need should visit an updated county pantry/meal listing and SNAP information page. 

Berkshire County, MA

The Berkshire United Way has activated its United Response effort for food access partners county-wide, while the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is running Mobile Food Bank distributions with no eligibility requirement. South County and North County staple organizations, including The People’s Pantry (Great Barrington), Pittsfield Community Food Pantry (formerly South Community Food Pantry), and Berkshire Food Project (North Adams) are all upping their efforts and are acutely aware of the impact the SNAP cuts are having on families. 

Columbia County, NY

In Columbia County, municipalities and agencies are reaching out to help residents locate groceries and hot meals. The Town of Ghent posted a county-wide resource update in direct response to the SNAP suspension, while the county’s consolidated food pantry PDF remains a practical reference for pantry contacts and hours. The Salvation Army’s Hudson location provides pantry service and appears in the Regional Food Bank’s county agency list, alongside well-known providers such as Columbia Opportunities, Inc. and the Chatham Area Silent Pantry. 

Litchfield County, CT

In the Northwest corner of Connecticut, Friendly Hands Food Bank (Torrington), FISH NWCT (food pantry and shelter), The Corner Food Pantry (Lakeville), and The Community Kitchen of Torrington provide staple groceries and hot meals for their neighbors as well. More coordinated efforts have been discussed if the stalemate drags on. Even if SNAP benefits are restored in full today, the moment highlights the fragility of community nutrition in America and here in our quiet corner of it.

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Jamie Larson
Jamie Larson