In the past, Christina Harris has had to use The Emergency Food Assistance Program to get by. 

Now, she pays it forward by volunteering at the Community Action Partnership food bank in Coeur d’Alene. 

“What I’ve seen is an increase to women and children in need. It makes you want to cry,” Harris said Wednesday.

As the government shutdown begins to affect food and nutrition access through SNAP and WIC programs, CAP’s food bank and regional commodities distribution center in Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston are among food insecurity agencies across the country that are readying themselves for an influx of people.

Community Action Partnership Executive Director Lisa Stoddard said she isn’t fully seeing the impact yet, but she believes the shutdown will result in many more people seeking help from CAP.   

“We are hearing a lot of concern from community members, which will likely grow and escalate after the first couple weeks in November when those on SNAP and WIC do not receive their anticipated benefits,” Stoddard said. 

The Department of Agriculture data indicates almost 16 million children received SNAP benefits in 2023. Most Americans using SNAP have incomes below the poverty line and the average monthly benefit is $187 per person.  

Reports on Tuesday indicated that there have been legal filings to create a federal contingency fund with roughly $5 billion in it — enough to pay for the benefits for more than half a month, according to the Associated Press. 

Katrina Mayer manages the CAP food bank in Coeur d’Alene and said the most critical need is supplies for young families. 

“With the influx of people coming in because of SNAP, I’m going to need baby stuff,” Mayer said.   

CAP also supplies food to 24 other food banks in the five North Idaho counties and offers curbside for folks who can’t pick up their food in person.  

Obtaining proteins for food distribution is one of the biggest challenges Mayer said CAP faces. 

She’s preparing for an increase when the pause on benefits is felt more in November. 

“Going into November I have five or six semi-trucks coming in to replenish my commodity stocks for TEFAP like peanut butter,” Mayer said. “It’s a big deal.” 

At the 3rd Avenue Marketplace, Brana Cully, development assistant and volunteer coordinator, said they’re already experiencing an increase in the number of people coming in to get food.   

“On Monday, we hit the record for the number of families we helped in one day: 158,” Cully said. 

She called the increase “a big jump” and said prior to this week, the highest number was 136 families helped in a day.   

“We are seeing a lot of new people calling us to access our food bank as well as people who used our food bank two to three years ago and are calling, asking to access the food bank again,” Cully said.  

The marketplace is working to aid as many people as possible and also invited community members to donate food or money.

In Shoshone County, Wallace Food Bank Director Michael Hoffman said the food bank is definitely anticipating more need as a result of the government shutdown.

“We’ve received several calls and emails regarding concerns, donations and also more local food drives this next month,” Hoffman said. 

Hoffman hadn’t planned on applying for grants this month, but when an opportunity presented itself last week as another means for the food bank to add to its resources, he saw it as a necessary step. 

“It is what it is, it’s dysfunctional and it’s not right, but we’ll be helping out as best we can,” Hoffman said. “We've got like four food drives going on, it's going to be more if the government doesn’t get its act together and open up by Saturday.” 

The Wallace Food Bank and Wallace Elks are also looking forward to the turnout on Thanksgiving Day and anticipating more for their annual community meal.   

Hoffman said food bank donations of food or money can be dropped off at the Stardust Motel seven days a week. Volunteers are also needed to help with Thanksgiving preparations. 

    Katrina Mayer manages the Community Action Partnership food bank in Coeur d’Alene and said she anticipates an influx of need from local mothers with babies.

    A box of food for curbside deliveries for people in North Idaho who are unable to pick up their food in person from the Community Action Partnership food bank.