D.C. rallies to feed federal workers as SNAP freeze looms
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With federal paychecks on hold and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at risk, D.C.-area groups are racing to feed more people in need.
Why it matters: The region is already struggling to meet a surge in demand following federal job losses and funding cuts. Nonprofits warn a hunger crisis is looming.
Driving the news: Capital Area Food Bank opened five distribution hubs last week for federal workers and contractors in D.C., Alexandria, Hyattsville and elsewhere.
- CAFB served 1,500 federal workers in the first week — double what organizers tell Axios they had expected.
- The hubs will run four days a week during the shutdown.
- A government ID is required for household boxes, which include pantry items and produce.
By the numbers: Roughly 141,000 D.C. residents rely on SNAP — including 47,000 kids and 24,000 seniors. A freeze in November could devastate households.
- Food banks can replace only one of every nine SNAP meals, according to the nationwide network Feeding America.
What they're saying: "There's no way to fully fill that gap," CAFB president Radha Muthiah tells Axios. "We're aiming to cover a quarter."
- CAFB has served around 5 million more meals this year than average.
- Muthiah says people are having to make "impossible choices" between health care, bills and food.
Zoom in: Grassroots groups like Food Not Bombs and the DC Mutual Aid Network — which has active distribution groups in every ward — are stepping up with neighborhood-level programs.
- Chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen — which launched an emergency kitchen during 2018's record-long shutdown — is partnering with local restaurants like Lebanese Taverna and 2Fifty Texas BBQ to serve free lunches for federal workers around D.C.
- A rep says they've served around 8,450 meals thus far and will continue through at least this week (see locations).
Friction point: Competition is rising between groups for resources, especially groceries.
- "It's like triage," says Food Rescue US–DC's Kate Urbank. Her organization salvages around 45,000 pounds of food weekly and distributes to dozens of partners. "There's only so much food."
- And nonprofits tell Axios that instead of pantry staples, they're seeking money and manpower to purchase fresh produce and protein and distribute it to lengthening lines.
What we're watching: If D.C. will tap into its reserves to fund food benefits if there's a SNAP disruption.
- In the meantime, the city's Food Policy Council is pointing residents toward resources like the park department's weekly veggie giveaways, as well as organizations like Bread for the City and Central Union Mission, which is also providing groceries to furloughed federal workers.
Go deeper: What happens to SNAP benefits already loaded to EBT cards in November