One thousand turkeys. Five hundred cans each of corn, green beans, and sweet potatoes. And the list goes on.
That’s what it takes to feed the tens of thousands of hungry Baltimore-area residents whom the Bea Gaddy Family Center serves on Thanksgiving each year.
But the interruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the federal government shutdown has cut into Bea Gaddy’s pantry.
During the 43 days – and counting – of the shutdown, Bea Gaddy has seen an uptick in residents seeking food assistance.
Before the shutdown, the nonprofit saw about 40 people when they hand out food every Thursday. Last week, they welcomed 70 and ran out of food to give.
“Everything that we can, we make it available on Thursdays,” said Cynthia Brooks, executive director of Bea Gaddy. “Right now, it’s time to stand up for Thanksgiving. And we can’t stand up for Thanksgiving if we have this extra need, because people now are going to every food pantry that they can go to because they’re scared.”
About 42 million people, including more than 680,000 Marylanders, rely on SNAP to put food on the table. But due to the shutdown, SNAP benefits were suspended Nov. 1.
The Trump administration argued it could not use contingency funds to continue SNAP benefits. However, a federal judge ruled they must do just that. After that ruling, the administration said it would fund recipients’ benefits, but only up to half of their regular amounts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has since called for reducing maximum SNAP benefits by 35% instead of 50%.
Last week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore ordered the release of $62 million of state funds to ensure the state’s SNAP recipients get their full benefits amount. Maryland on Tuesday resumed administering SNAP benefits with help from state funds.
An end to the shutdown could be in sight, as eight members of Senate Democrats’ caucus broke party ranks to vote with Senate Republicans. The move drew criticism from fellow Democrats, who called out their colleagues for failing to secure the Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies that the shutdown has been hinging on.
The House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on funding the government and ending the shutdown.
SNAP benefit amounts were already not enough for many recipients to cover their food expenses. Now, Brooks asked, “What does that person do when they’re not even getting that?”
Bea Gaddy serves anywhere from 2,000 to 3,500 meals on-site for Thanksgiving. On top of that, they usually distribute about 50,000 meals throughout the Baltimore area.
This year, the nonprofit has received at least 12,000 extra meal requests, Brooks said. That means approximately 62,000 meals to deliver.
As demand rises, Bea Gaddy is urging community members who have the means to donate to give what they can.
Donors can give a monetary gift or donate items from Bea Gaddy’s wish list, which includes food as well as materials like serving pans, take-home containers, aprons, and hair nets.
If residents don’t have the financial ability to donate, they can also give their time as a volunteer, Brooks said.
The volunteers they need the most are drivers who can deliver Thanksgiving meals to people in need.
Community members are not only receiving a meal, but also a connection with someone who cares, Brooks said.
“To see somebody that thought so much of you, gave so much of their time to come and just talk to you and make sure that you had a meal on Thanksgiving, that means so much.”
That’s especially important for older adults, who may experience isolation, particularly around the holidays.
“The senior population, those that are shut in their homes, are really isolated,” Brooks said.
She added that delivering a meal “is a chance to interact with a senior that really does not have anyone to assist them. They get a big smile.”
Even with the possibility for the government to reopen soon, Brooks said the effects of the shutdown will likely have a longer lasting impact on residents.
“Let’s say people started getting their SNAP benefits next week,” Brooks said. “You haven’t been able to purchase any food pretty much since October. Do you go out and buy turkey? Or do you restock your pantry? … The priority isn’t going to be a Thanksgiving dinner.”
She underscored that if the shutdown ends without a concrete plan to extend Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies, many residents will face unaffordable health care expenses on top of food insecurity.
“We just have to be patient,” she said. “I think everyone needs to understand that what is being sought after will help you in the long run, because if you run up the ACA bills, people already can’t pay for that, and it’s not going to be helpful.”
The GoFundMe campaign is not set up – how can we donate cash?