Help is on the way for food shelves in Washington County, Minnesota, as local officials move quickly to support residents affected by the federal government shutdown. Just days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would not be released in November, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved $250,000 in emergency funding to help 10 local food shelves.
About 10,400 residents—or roughly 5,000 households—in Washington County rely on SNAP, receiving an average of $310 per month. The funding aims to cushion the blow for families who depend on this federal aid to put food on the table. During a special meeting, Jennifer Castillo, the county’s Director of Community Services, said the decision shows how the county can act quickly and compassionately in a crisis.
The sudden halt in SNAP benefits has also hit federal employees who are currently working without pay or have been furloughed. Many of them are now turning to food shelves for the first time. Jessica Francis, executive director of Open Cupboard, said demand for food has been rising daily. “Yesterday’s numbers were higher than the day before, which were higher than the day before that,” she said, describing the growing need in the community.
Open Cupboard will receive the largest share of the county’s aid—$75,000—followed by Basic Needs, Valley Outreach, and Family Pathways, each receiving $37,500. Friends in Need and Hugo Good Neighbors will each get $18,750, while smaller food shelves such as St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center, Community Helping Hands, Mahtomedi Area Food Shelf, and Scandia Marine Food Shelf will each receive $6,250. County officials said the allocations were based on factors like organization size, number of people served, and proximity to areas with many SNAP households.
This local funding adds to a $4 million state relief package announced earlier by Governor Tim Walz to support food shelves across Minnesota. Other counties are also stepping up to respond. In Dakota County, about 10,000 residents could lose their food benefits next month, prompting officials to urge the public to donate or volunteer. “Knowing how this will affect communities, Dakota County is encouraging residents to support local food shelves,” said county spokesperson Mary Beth Schubert. The county has launched social media campaigns to spread the word and direct people to resources for financial assistance.
Meanwhile, Ramsey County officials have not yet announced any new plans, though Catholic Charities in St. Paul continues to offer free community meals and other services at its Dorothy Day Place campus.
At the national level, a federal court in Boston is weighing whether to force the government to release emergency funds for SNAP. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani appeared sympathetic to the 25 Democratic-led states pushing for action, including Minnesota. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace,” she said, emphasizing the human impact of the shutdown. Even so, she warned that emergency funding might not cover everyone fully or could be delayed.
For now, local leaders and organizations are focused on helping Minnesotans weather the storm. Through quick coordination and community generosity, counties like Washington and Dakota hope to ensure that no one in their neighborhoods goes hungry—shutdown or not.
