Rockford food pantries brace for increased demand as SNAP benefits may end

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms there will be no SNAP benefits starting November 1 if the government shutdown continues.

Local food pantries are already seeing an increase in people in need and expect even more to need help next month.

“Having the SNAP benefits to buy groceries, it frees up the budget for things like medication, transportation, you know, things of that matter. And now I’m stretching to make sure I’m meeting everything. I’m scared. What if I’m short on rent? What if ComEd decides to cut me off over $12.98? I’m really nervous,” said Domonique Bannister, a SNAP recipient.

Monday, Rockford leaders and residents gathered at the Winnebago County Housing Authority, at 8500 E. State Street, to voice their concerns about the potential loss of SNAP benefits.

Food pantries are asking the community for support through volunteering or donations to help stay up and running when demand goes up.

One in every eight Americans receives food assistance from SNAP.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.