(SOUTHERN COLORADO) —The Colorado Department of Human Services has received guidance from the USDA regarding the issuance of partial SNAP benefits for November, but implementing these payments requires technical changes that could take time.

Communities across Colorado are feeling the effects of the government shutdown, with food pantries experiencing increased demand. The Salvation Army in Colorado Springs reports that the number of people seeking assistance has nearly tripled at its food pantry.

“We described it as, we’ve got this snowball that’s going to start rolling down the hill and it’s just going to get bigger and bigger unless we get out in front of it,” said Erik Stone, Teller County Commissioner, District 3.

Stephen Ball, El Paso County coordinator for the Salvation Army, noted, “We typically would process about 50 families in a three-hour window. We had close to 198, I believe, in an hour and a half.”

To meet the growing demand, the Salvation Army is seeking help through local food drives and monetary donations to purchase more food. They also provide daily baskets for individuals who cannot visit the pantry during regular hours.

In rural Teller County, food pantries saw an increase in families seeking assistance even before the shutdown, following federal cuts to funding resources.

“We were already seeing a 50% increase in people accessing food security services in our county, across organizations,” said Jodi Mijares, President & CEO of the Community Partnership Family Resource Center.

Local leaders, including county commissioners and community members, are holding daily meetings to coordinate support and identify resources from various organizations, including faith-based groups and schools. Stone mentioned that the United Methodist Church is providing food options for those with dietary restrictions.

Local ranchers are contributing by donating beef to food banks, addressing the need for protein in meals provided to those in need. “I think food banks always experience, to a degree, a lack of protein,” said Stone.

Community efforts are underway to ensure families in Southern Colorado have access to food during these challenging times. “We really just want to put the message out that there is no stigma asking for help during times like this,” said Mijares. “Asking for help, feeding your family, is taking care of your family.”

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