CLARK FORK — The federal government shutdown has blocked Monarch Market from receiving certification that would allow the grocery store to accept SNAP benefits.

The market, which has served the Clark Fork area for over 30 years, was bought by a new owner in July, which meant that the store had to apply for a new license to continue accepting SNAP. Monarch Market’s general manager Jennifer Wujick said that since the store originally applied in July, it has been unable to get a certification and had to apply a second time. 

“We didn't argue it, we just said, ‘It’s the government, we’ll reapply,’" Wujick said. “I know directly that people in the community are suffering because we can’t accept EBT.” 

Wujick said that the store applied a second time at the beginning of September. However, when she called Wednesday to check in with the case agent at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she was met with a voicemail informing her that the person was no longer working due to the government shutdown. 

“Now, how long is it going to be? Here comes another month rolling around,” Wujick said about the shutdown. “It’s no longer about the business; it’s about the community and them being able to eat.” 

The federal government shut down Wednesday after Congress could not pass a funding extension. According to the USDA’s shutdown contingency plan, 92% of employees who work for the Food and Nutrition Service wing of the department are furloughed until the shutdown ends. 

Around 10% of households in the Clark Fork region actively receive SNAP benefits, according to the most recent U.S. Census data from 2023. Wujick said without the Monarch Market, the nearest grocery store that accepts SNAP benefits is 30 miles away in Sandpoint. 

If residents are unable to make the trip to Sandpoint, Wujick said that the only place people could use their SNAP benefits would be at two community gas stations. 

"If people don’t have transportation, they’ll purchase whatever they can at the gas stations; people can’t really pay six bucks for a gallon of milk,” Wujck said. 

Wujick said she has been in contact with the office of U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, whose staff has said they will work to get the market’s case worked on in Washington, D.C. While she was given no timeline by the staff, she said she was grateful that the office offered to assist the community. 

"People from Senator Crapo’s office did call me today,” Wujick said Thursday. “They’re emailing me a release form so they can call Washington and try to help me. It’s pretty awesome, huh?” 

A vote to end the shutdown is unlikely to occur over the weekend, according to Associated Press reports, leaving the market and residents of the Clark Fork region in limbo. Wujick said the market will continue to push for EBT certification in an effort to provide a service to the local community. 

“What kind of community grocery store are we if we can’t fight for the people that live there?” Wujick said. “It’s more than just selling a loaf of bread ... we care about our customers a lot, they mean everything to us.”