SNAP Uncertainty Tip of the Iceberg for Marion Polk Food Share

Marion Polk Food Share’s mission is to bring people together to end hunger and its root causes. Especially when a crisis is on the horizon, like the uncertainty surrounding the distribution of SNAP benefits as the federal government shut down, which began on October 1, showed no signs of opening back up. 

Vice-President of Programs Ian Dixon-McDonald said the food share saw a 19 percent uptick in traffic coming through the food banks during that stressful time, particularly toward the end of October and into the beginning of this month. “Just in the weeks leading up to that potential event, there were huge amounts of panic and confusion in the community about what’s going to happen to SNAP benefits,” he said. 

With no answers in sight, and a potentially unprecedented horizon, the organization went into emergency response mode. Once word got out about the looming crisis, the community responded too. “We saw a huge outpouring of support from the community,” Dixon-McDonald said. “There were huge amounts of food coming in, large amounts of people coming in to volunteer their time and the food that they had.”

The City of Salem donated 20,000 dollars to the food share. The Marion County Commissioners donated $200,000 specifically for food that was then distributed through schools, so that families with young kids could eat. “Multiple other private foundations came through with funds for us,” Dixon-McDonald said. “The State of Oregon also allocated 5 million dollars to the food bank system across the state so a portion of that will be coming our way soon.” 

According to their website, Marion Polk Food Share distributes “nutritious food for individuals and families to more than 70 local partners, including food pantries and meal sites, and delivers Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. We operate an urban farm and support a network of community gardens that connect people and their food, and mobilize community members to address systemic issues that lead to hunger.” And like most non-profits, the organization relies largely on the community to keep its doors open throughout both counties. 

“Relatively small amounts of our funds come from government sources,” Dixon-McDonald said. “Most of our funds come from folks making the choice to donate to us.” 

On November 12, SNAP benefits were reinstated when the government opened back up after 43 days,  the longest shutdown in U.S. history. “The initial state of panic from the community has lessened,” Dixon-McDonald said. But the road ahead is still very long. The interruption of benefits only made a tough situation harder. “We are already seeing a really high need and that need has not gone away,” he said. “The SNAP benefits coming back means that, for a group of people, yes, things are back to normal. But for many others that are already in a tough situation or have already been coming to the food bank, that hasn’t changed.

“I think something important to keep in mind is that SNAP is by far the largest program that addresses hunger and food insecurity in the community. In Marion and Polk counties alone there are over 40,000 households that rely on SNAP to feed their families.” 

According to Dixon-McDonald, food banks are already seeing record high numbers due to the increase in inflation and housing prices. USDA cuts further strain the system. There are other factors too, like the passing of House Bill HR1, which in part reduces spending for various federal programs, that hamstring the organization’s efforts.“That bill will make a group of folks who are asylum seekers, refugees and some kinds of undocumented immigrants no longer eligible for SNAP,” Dixon-McDonald said.  “The work requirements for SNAP are expanded, too. This will result in more people losing SNAP and that will increase hunger in the community.”

So what can be done? “We raise awareness,” Dixon-McDonald said. By being involved in the community and getting as much food out as they can every day, by making friends with local and state government representatives and advocating for policy change. It’s what those at the food share are trying to do and what he encourages neighbors and friends to do. 

“We’re not really out of the woods yet.”  

Marion Polk Food Share

1660 Salem Industrial Dr NE

Salem OR 97301

Marion Polk Food Share - Food Assistance in the Mid-Valley

503-581-3855