A Cambridge day shelter mobilizes to fight SNAP disruptions

Why it matters: The shelter is one of many Boston-area organizations scrambling to help people losing SNAP benefits on Saturday.

State of play: On The Rise isn't a food pantry. Still, it offers roughly 25 visitors breakfast and lunch daily with help from local volunteer groups.

• Now the shelter expects the number of visitors to rise well above that average, with more visits from newly housed women who have already run out of SNAP funds.

What they're saying: "The downstream impact of this is very real," Henneberry tells Axios. "They're going to perhaps prioritize buying food to feed themselves, but could fall behind on utilities and rent."

How to help: The staff is seeking donations of $25 increments to fund gift cards, along with the usual hot breakfasts and lunches.

• The shelter plans to start offering to-go bags for dinners on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. It's also planning a meal train for emergency food like microwavable meals and snacks, says Jenna Warren, the shelter's resource and volunteer coordinator.
• "It's like a COVID-level crisis," Henneberry said. "It needs a COVID-level response."