SNAP benefits may be paused starting November 1, leaving families in need. Here’s how you can help.
by Hannah Truby, the Sierra Nevada Ally
This story was produced by the Sierra Nevada Ally, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet focused on civics, climate, and culture. License: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
Starting Nov. 1, roughly 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see their benefits paused due to a federal funding lapse, leaving low-income families in need across the country.
Congress has yet to approve emergency funds to keep the program running — a decision that could leave millions of families without food assistance as costs for food, housing and other essential items continue to rise.
The program provides money for food to households with low or no income in the previous month. Most people who receive SNAP benefits are children, seniors, and adults with with disabilities.
With SNAP benefits paused, food banks say they cannot possibly fill a gap this large. In Northern Nevada, that means more strain on already overextended food pantries and mutual aid groups that work every week to feed their neighbors.
Here’s how you can help: donate, volunteer, or connect with local food banks and mutual aid groups in Northern Nevada and Tahoe.
What you need to know
- Without prompt federal action, many SNAP households will face a cliff: a month (or more) without the regular benefit accumulation they rely on.
- Even in the best of times, our local food-bank system runs near capacity. For example, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN) describes itself as serving tens of thousands of people each month across Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra.
- At the same time, the Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada offers both a major food-pantry operation and outreach for SNAP eligibility among low-income residents.
Local Resources
Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN)
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada distributes food to tens of thousands of people each month across Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra. Every dollar donated provides roughly three meals for children, families, and seniors.
fbnn.org
Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (St. Vincent’s Food Pantry)
One of the region’s largest direct-service food pantries, St. Vincent’s distributes groceries to thousands of households weekly and helps residents apply for SNAP and other benefits. The pantry is open Monday–Wednesday, 8 a.m.–10 a.m., with an extended “Friday Market” from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
500 E. Fourth Street, Reno
ccsnn.org
Family Soup Mutual Aid
A grassroots, volunteer-run network, Family Soup Mutual Aid hosts weekly food and essentials distributions every Tuesday evening at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno. Volunteers provide hot meals, nonperishable food, hygiene supplies, warm clothing, and sleeping gear — no questions asked, no paperwork required.
Instagram @familysoupmutualaid
Sierra Community House (Tahoe/Truckee region)
Across the lake and in the high‑mountain zone, Sierra Community House offers hunger‑relief services through weekly food distributions in Truckee, Kings Beach and Incline Village — no ID, income proof or residency required.
sierracommunityhouse.org
What You Can Do
Donate: If you are able, please consider giving to local food-relief organizations.
Volunteer: Many pantries rely on volunteers to sort, pack and distribute food.
Share this information: Let friends, neighbors and community groups know what’s coming, where to go for help, and that this isn’t just an abstract policy problem — it’s a possible crisis at the kitchen table for many.
Read more on the Nevada Division of Social Services website >>
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