Community Foundation of Elkhart County supports local food pantries as SNAP benefits lapse

With the lapse of federal SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, food pantries across Elkhart County are preparing for an immediate and drastic increase in need.

The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is providing backbone support to more than 60 food pantries through Hunger Ends Here, an initiative that helps nonprofit and faith-based organizations work together to reduce food insecurity. By coordinating communication, sharing resources, and organizing bulk food purchases, the Community Foundation is helping pantries prepare to serve families who are losing federal assistance for groceries. Pantries are bracing for demand of four to eight times their usual level.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides funds to help buy food for millions of Americans. In Elkhart County, more than 15,000 households in Elkhart County receive benefits each month, according to Murray.

“For the past year, we’ve helped pantries strengthen their operations and work together, but this moment calls for something more,” said Andy Murray, chief strategic initiatives officer at the Community Foundation. “We have an incredible network of local leaders already doing the daily work of feeding their neighbors. Our role is to help them collaborate, stretch resources, and make sure no child in Elkhart County goes hungry.”

The Hunger Ends Here collaboration is leveraging the power of collective purchasing to make donated dollars go further. Working together allows pantries to buy food in bulk, sometimes at a fraction of retail cost, and distribute it efficiently throughout the county.

The Community Foundation is contributing a significant amount of funds to enable these bulk food purchases, while continuing to convene and coordinate the local partners responding to this urgent need. Current committed funds may pay for a week or two of food if demand increases as expected.

At the Community Foundation’s annual celebration earlier this month, President Pete McCown reminded attendees of its support for children, including preparing them for kindergarten. Ensuring they are not hungry is part of that work.

Community members who wish to donate can do so at hungerendshere.com. Those interested in volunteering can sign up through Acts of Service, the Foundation’s volunteer engagement program, at actsofservice.com.

“Our mission has always been to inspire generosity,” McCown said. “This is a moment for us to do that together because feeding our neighbors isn’t political. It’s simply the right thing to do.”