The Food Pantry Blog

Many of you have already been tracking the effects of both the federal shutdown and changes to funding and eligibility, and wondering what they will mean on campus and for the Spartan Open Pantry. While we have already seen some effects from federal employee furloughs, we expect a significant increase in usage starting this coming week. Beginning November 1, the State of North Carolina has been instructed to halt the distribution of SNAP benefits. Across the nation, an estimated 1.1 million students in higher education will see their food assistance halted or delayed. In Guilford County, EBT benefits are loaded between the 3rd and 21st of the month, according to a schedule based on Social Security Number. This means the first payment will be missed starting Monday, November 3.

We are doing our best to prepare for a wave of new Spartan neighbors coming to the pantry, and we will do our best to provide as much food as possible. With food prices rising and donations declining, we will need all the support we can get this year. Following last year’s record of 75,462 lbs. distributed, we had already estimated that we would distribute 90,000 lbs. of food in 2025-2026, based on our average year-to-year increase before the government shutdown.

For every meal provided through the food bank and food pantry network in North Carolina, there are nine provided through Food and Nutrition Services. While we do not yet fully know how these delays and stoppages will strain our food networks, we should all be prepared for the consequences to be profound for many in our community. Even if the government were to reopen today, there would be a significant lag as the administrative system restarts and begins to address the backlog. Last week, the Trump Administration announced it would not utilize SNAP’s $5 billion to $6 billion contingency reserves to extend partial payments, despite previous administrations having done so, creating a more abrupt reduction in SNAP distributions. On Friday, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the administration to release those funds but it is not clear how long that will take, and once released the amount will cover only part of the $8.6 billion required for November’s SNAP payments nationwide.  

We will need everyone who is a partner and supports the SOP’s work to help in any way they can. If you can donate, volunteer, or organize, now is the time. In the Division of Student Affairs and across the university, we are already marshalling as many resources as possible to meet this challenge. We will do everything we can to ensure that no Spartan goes hungry.

We know that food insecurity brings with it fear, stress, and anxiety that can make us feel so alone. There will be difficult days ahead for many of the most vulnerable in our community. Research shows that the effect of basic needs insecurity on student mental health and well-being is profound. Yet I remain deeply hopeful. I believe in our Spartan community. Since 1891, our university has navigated its way through challenging times. We will take care of each other in the coming days, because that is what it means to be a community. That is what it means to be a Spartan. We will continue to work side by side until no person falls asleep hungry, facing the fear of where their next meal will come from.

We can do this.    

I will do my best to share information as it becomes available from Second Harvest Food Bank, the Feeding America Network, NCDHHS, or other hunger-focused organizations.

Sincerely,

Andrew Mails-Saine
Executive Director
Wesley-Luther | Spartan Open Pantry