WEST SPRINGFIELD — The phone is ringing, the email inbox busy at The Parish Cupboard in West Springfield.
With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits soon to run out in the federal government shutdown, people are looking for alternative ways to feed their families, said Robert Fastie, the executive director. But with SNAP running out of money Friday and in the news, donors are also contacting The Parish Cupboard. Twenty online donations Wednesday — $10, $20, $50 at a time — and it’s enough so that fundraising is up 10% compared with October last year.
“People are stepping up,” Fastie said. “We have a lot of food coming in the back door, too. I hope it keeps up. People are going to start coming in.”
Four years ago, when Fastie started at The Parish Cupboard, it served about 80 families a month. This month, it’s more than 200 families and October isn’t finished.
“Every month we’re setting a new record,” he said.
The shelves looked like they could use a restocking Wednesday afternoon, after the food pantry side of The Parish Cupboard closed for the day. Families — about a dozen of them — were handed lists of what they are allowed to take and asked to browse the aisles with a volunteer. That way, if they don’t want an item they can just leave it behind.
There was still milk — chocolate and plain — butter, loaves of bread, boxes of cereal and in a freezer, chicken and other meats. Families must be from West Springfield, Agawam and Feeding Hills to qualify.
By about noon, there were 20 or so in the dining room for lunch.
In just the Pioneer Valley alone, In Western Massachusetts alone, more than 191,000 people depend on SNAP to put food on the table, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts said Wednesday.
The top 10 state communities with the highest percentage of its population who receive SNAP benefits included Springfield at No. 1 at 47.4% and Holyoke at No. 2 at 43.3%. North Adams was sixth at 33.5 and Chicopee was eighth at 29.6%.
Without immediate federal action, SNAP benefits will not be issued until the government reopens, leaving millions without funds to buy food.
Donations are also up for the Food Bank, said Jillian Morgan, director of development. But it’s too early to say how big and how sustained a bump.
“We are really activating right now on fundraising,” she said in an interview. “This is the time of year for it in general.”
But she knows demand will increase if SNAP is left unfunded.
And it’ll be hard to make up for lost federal money. For every meal the Food Bank can provide, SNAP provides nine meals.
Speaking of ratios, the Food Bank changed the ratio it uses to explain its effectiveness. It used to say giving a dollar could pay for three meals. Today, it’s more like two meals for every donated dollar.
“Our money doesn’t go as far,” she said.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Wednesday urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers SNAP, to use its existing contingency fund and issue next month’s benefits.
“Yet the Trump Administration has chosen not to release these funds,” the Food Bank said in a news release.
U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined fellow Democrats Wednesday in Washington calling for Trump to tap the $5 billion emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fund to prevent 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 4 million Americans with disabilities from going hungry.
Officials in 25 states, including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, are suing Trump to preserve food aid.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts said even a pause in SNAP will hurt the overall economy.
“This will be a devastating blow, not only to families who rely on SNAP, but to the grocers, farmers, and local economies that depend on this federal investment in local communities across the country,” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. “SNAP brings $35 million every month into Western Massachusetts. Losing this economic stimulus for even one month will ripple across every community.”
Food Bank’s 199-member pantries, meal programs and shelters, as well as its own 75 Mobile Food Bank and Brown Bag: Food for Elders sites, are all preparing, Morehouse said.
The Food Bank is activating its emergency response plan to increase food supply, ramp up direct distributions, and expand deliveries to member food pantries in the region, according to its statements. That also means collaborating with other Massachusetts food banks and anti-hunger coalitions to urge Gov. Maura T. Healey and the state legislature to allocate emergency funding through the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program and to consider using other state resources to cover November SNAP benefits if the federal government does not act.
The Food Bank said the public can help by contacting federal lawmakers.
Donations to the Food Bank can be made online at foodbankwma.org or by mail.
Morehouse also asked people to join the 16th annual March for the Food Bank as a marcher or sponsor, with the largest fundraising goal in the event’s history of $650,000, to support local grocers and farmers and the share accurate information. People can find food assistance at foodbankwma.org and follow the Food Bank on social media for updates.
At The Parish Cupboard, Fastie said he’s already contingency planning as well. He’s stocking up, seeking donations. But he’s afraid he may have to start cutting back on families’ monthly allotment.
“I’d hate to turn anyone away,” he said.
He’s working with the West Springfield Senior Center to make sure elders who need food can access the pantry.
Across the river, the United Way Pioneer Valley Springfield cupboard served over 618 individuals Tuesday — a 30% increase from any other Tuesday service, United Way said.
Gardening The Community in Springfield announced that beginning Tuesday, Nov. 4, it will provide a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk once a week to HIP, Healthy Incentives Program, customers at its farm store, 200 Walnut St.
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