- Over 440,000 Minnesotans are set to lose their SNAP food benefits due to a potential federal government shutdown.
- The state’s $4 million emergency fund is a fraction of the $73 million in monthly federal aid that will be lost.
- Food shelves, already under immense pressure, are anticipating an overwhelming surge in demand for essentials.
- Local businesses and farms are mobilizing with donations of bread, produce, and other food items to support their communities.
Minnesota on the Brink of a Hunger Crisis as SNAP Benefits Vanish
A looming federal government shutdown threatens to cut off vital food assistance for more than 440,000 Minnesotans this weekend, creating a dire situation for families already living on the edge. The suspension of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) represents a potential loss of $73 million in monthly aid, a blow that state-level emergency funds can barely soften.
“Scraping By”: The Human Cost of Political Impasse
For families like Sarah Beiswenger’s, the cutoff is more than a statistic; it’s a daily struggle intensified. Beiswenger cares for her 23-year-old son with disabilities, who receives just $66 a month in SNAP benefits. “It doesn’t go far at all,” she explained, noting it barely covers three plastic bags of groceries. Already relying on food shelves and her own pocket to make ends meet, the uncertainty is terrifying.
“It’s just scary because right now, it’s SNAP. But does that mean his medical assistance gets impacted at some point? Or does that mean his housing voucher gets impacted at some point?” Beiswenger shared. “There’s all these what ifs, and it makes you tired.”
A System Strained to Its Breaking Point
As SNAP benefits disappear, the burden shifts to a hunger relief system already stretched thin. Gov. Tim Walz announced a one-time emergency fund of $4 million for food shelves, but advocates say it’s a drop in the bucket. Sophia Lenarz-Coy, executive director of The Food Group, warned that the ripple effects could be “incredibly dramatic,” impacting everything from health outcomes to school attendance.
Food shelves across the state are bracing for an unprecedented surge. Dom Korbel, executive director of Community Pathways of Steele County, worries about the impact on smaller communities. “People are going to definitely get less food,” Korbel stated. “If it’s going to be tough on us, these smaller food shelves across the state and even country are going to be really, really struggling to meet the need.”
Communities Rally to Feed Their Neighbors
In the face of crisis, Minnesotans are stepping up. Small businesses and local farmers are mobilizing to fill the gaps. In Waldorf, Cedar Crate Farm is donating extra produce from its harvest. In Waseca, Barefoot Lane MN microbakery is giving away free bread and eggs.
Cally Roberts, owner of Salt and Fern Bakehaus in North Mankato, is providing free sourdough starters so families can bake their own bread. As a former SNAP recipient herself during college, she understands the program’s importance. “It was absolutely invaluable to me back then to be able to continue in my education,” Roberts said. Now, she is paying it forward, empowering her community with the skills to be self-sufficient during this challenging time.
Image Referance: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/10/30/snap-benefits-will-soon-run-out-minnesota-families-struggle-to-find-food-options