(NewsNation) — The Supreme Court temporarily halted a lower court’s order to fully fund SNAP benefits for the estimated 42 million Americans who rely on the benefits to feed their families.
The payments have been in limbo since Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown. The SNAP program is a large part of the country’s social safety net, serving 1 in 8 Americans who are unable to afford food every month. Now, many food banks across the country are trying to step up and meet the increased demand.
Laura Glaza, executive director of the Glen House Food Pantry, located about an hour from Chicago, told NewsNation’s “Morning in America with Hena Doba” that she’s seen an increase in clients.
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“A gentleman named Terry is one of our clients. He was a former truck driver. He got injured and so he relies on SNAP benefits,” Glaza said, recounting one example of stories she has heard. “Terry is coming to the food pantry more often to get food to supplement the needs that he has.”
More than 200 families are on the food pantry’s waitlist.
“Those 200 people on the waitlist, we’re trying to slot them in. We’ve added more shifts. We’ve squeezed in more people,” Glaza said. “We rise to the occasion.”
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In 2024, the Glen House Food Pantry served over 8,500 families.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order to make $20 million available in food banks to help nearly 2 million residents who are enrolled in SNAP benefits.
“We haven’t seen that yet, but we feel confident,” Glaza said.
She said her food pantry is seeing 10 to 15 new families each day. Around 500 volunteers are helping fill in the gaps as the government shutdown surpassed its 40th day.
