WMass food pantries see spike in demand with pause in SNAP benefits

EASTHAMPTON — This week, people began lining up at 6:30 a.m. at the Easthampton Community Center for its food distribution program, said Robin Bialecki, executive director. The doors didn't open until 9 a.m.

"Guys, go wait in your car, it's cold out here," Bialecki said she told them.

But many stayed outside in line, she said. "We want to make sure we get food," they told her.

Amid the government shutdown, the pause of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or SNAP, is hitting people hard and food pantries are seeing a spike in demand. A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration had to fully fund SNAP benefits for November by Friday, but it's not clear when people will be able to access the benefit.

The Easthampton Community Center has seen a roughly 30% increase in the number of first-time clients in the last week, since SNAP benefits ran out, according to Bialecki. The pantry, a member of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, is open to anyone in the region, and serves about 5,500 households monthly.

At the center's weekly mobile market Thursday afternoon, before the federal judge's ruling, cars lined up early and stretched several blocks down the street and around the corner.

Leo Rodriguez relies on SNAP regularly but with the federal shutdown has to rely on food banks like the one he is volunteering at in Easthampton. The mobile food truck program was organized by Robin Bialecki, executive director of the Easthampton Community Center. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

Lourdes Matos sat in her minivan waiting in line with her toddler son, Leo, in the backseat. "I'm here because the government shutdown," she said.

Her family of five started getting SNAP benefits in recent months. "We count on that," she said.

The family's budget got tighter when she left her job as a certified nursing assistant at a hospital to take care of her baby while her husband remained working.

Sometimes she picks up food delivery work on DoorDash, like the previous night, when she made $20 and used it to buy groceries. Now, her mother-in-law is considering moving from Puerto Rico to Holyoke to care for Leo and allow Matos to go back to work. She's also looking into whether she qualifies for state assistance with childcare.

"I hope things get better," she said.

Alex Oyola, driver for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, helps to get people through the mobile food truck program in Easthampton. Nov. 6, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

Kimberly Thibault sat in her car waiting with her dog, Charlie. Thibault is a SNAP beneficiary missing out on the payment. "The price of food is outrageous," she said.

At the end of the line of cars, volunteers distributed food in a parking lot. Leo Rodriguez was volunteering and packing up onions for the food bags. Rodriguez is also a SNAP recipient feeling the impact of the benefit pause. "That is something I've deeply relied on my whole life," Rodriguez said. "I'm absolutely concerned for everyone — not just me."

Alongside Rodriguez, Rose Schwartz helped pack onions. She has been furloughed from her federal job at the National Resources Conservation Service since October, and when she saw the distribution near her home, she decided to help.

Rose Schwartz, right, helps to pack food for the mobile food truck program in Easthampton. Schwartz was recently furloughed due to the federal shutdown and saw cars lining up in her neighborhood so decided to help out. Nov. 6, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

Of the nearly 200 food pantries in Western Massachusetts, all are seeing increased need, Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, said earlier this week .

"For every meal the food bank provides, the SNAP program provides nine meals," Morehouse said. "There is no way we can make up for the loss of that," Morehouse said. "We will do everything we can in the absence of SNAP benefits … to ensure people have access to nutritious food."

All mobile markets in the last week saw an increase in demand, according to a Food Bank spokesperson. On Wednesday, Trinity United Methodist Church in Springfield had the largest increase, which saw 291 participants compared to its typical 195, according to the spokesperson.

Last week, some told Bialecki they didn't believe SNAP benefits would be paused. "When it did happen the realization was, 'Whoa, we're in trouble,'" she said.

Robin Bialecki, executive director of the Easthampton Community Center, organized the drive-in food pantry Thursday. Nov. 6, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

Bialecki has worked at the community center for 25 years, 17 as director. The panic she's seeing now is similar to how people felt at the start of the pandemic.

"We're seeing that same type of fear they are not going to get food," she said. "So far, we have not had to turn anyone away, and we would like to keep it that way."

On Election Day, candidates encouraged people to bring food donations, which helped, Bialecki said. Donations can be small, even a few cans of food. "It all adds up," she said.

The Walnut St. Farmstore is the retail outlet at Gardening the Community on Walnut Street in Springfield. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 8/13/2024The Republican

At its Walnut Street Farm Store in Springfield, Gardening the Community is offering milk, eggs and produce to those who need it, said Liz O'Gilvie, director of the community nonprofit and executive director of the Springfield Food Policy Council.

With cuts to SNAP, the store has seen a uptick in visitors, "They are scared," O'Gilvie said. "They are terrified."

Across the state, Springfield has the highest per-capita use of SNAP, with 47.4% of residents receiving food assistance.

Initially, the offer of support was for SNAP recipients, O'Gilvie said, but the USDA said grocery stores are not allowed to give discounts to SNAP recipients under a rule that requires equal treatment of beneficiaries.

The food distribution has some financial support from the Food Policy Council.

The Walnut Street Farm Store is encouraging anyone with funds left from the Healthy Incentives Program — a state-funded initiative that gives recipients of SNAP money to use at farmers markets, farm stands and farm shares — to use that, but no one will be turned away.

O'Gilvie is worried about people's access to fresh produce and milk, which pantries don't always have because they are not shelf stable. Making fruits and vegetables accessible to the urban neighborhood through the farm and its store and programs is core to the organization's mission.

"Our only response to this moment is to lean in and try to do a better job than we've been doing all along," O'Gilvie said.

She also worries about the trauma the situation can cause — she grew up not always having access to food. "These are horrific choices people have to make that they shouldn't have to make," she said.

As a woman left the farm store Thursday morning, O'Gilvie asked her to spread the word about the organization's offer to help. "Tell everyone you know," she said. "Tell your friends please."

Liz O'Gilvie, executive director of Gardening the Community, works on the organization's farm on Walnut Street on October 30, 2024. (Greta Jochem / The Republican)Greta Jochem/The Springfield Republican

Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .