Donations to hunger relief organizations surge amid SNAP crisis

• Across the country, local food banks are stepping up to help families facing food insecurity.

• According to nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator, donations to hunger relief organizations increased by nearly 600% last week.

• The federal government shutdown, which has been ongoing for more than a month, has jeopardized vital services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. To help make up for this shortfall, individual donors are overwhelmingly supporting hunger relief nonprofits.

• The SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps, is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides basic assistance to approximately 42 million people. The agency warned last month that food assistance would be suspended if the shutdown continued for a long time.

• In a ruling on Friday, a federal judge in Rhode Island said the Trump administration cannot stop providing SNAP benefits.

• On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said payments could resume as early as Wednesday. In court documents filed on Monday, the administration also said it would take steps to provide partial benefits using contingency funds.

• Meanwhile, with millions of federal and contract workers furloughed and without pay, the need for SNAP food benefits is growing.

• "[Monday's] announcement is an important first step, but it is not enough," Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, an industry association, said in a statement. "Millions of families, children, and the elderly remain at risk of food assistance delays or cuts."

• Local food banks are often on the front lines of rescue. However, these nonprofits are also under pressure due to the disruption in federal funding.

• "Food banks, shelters, and community organizations are extremely vulnerable," Yentel said. "Every delay or reduction in SNAP benefits prompts more people to seek emergency assistance and puts additional pressure on the nonprofit sector."

• Huge increase in donations for hunger relief

• Amid severe economic hardship, individual donors have stepped up to support nonprofits, charities, and public service organizations providing assistance to families in need.

• According to Charity Navigator, a third-party evaluator, donations to hunger relief organizations increased by approximately 587% between October 23 and October 27.

• "Many food banks are seeing a significant increase in donations. Learning that your neighbor is hungry is nothing short of traumatic," said Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator.

• Donors can find information on relief efforts through sites like Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, or CharityWatch, which assess criteria such as how transparent a nonprofit is about its finances and how much of its budget is spent on programs.

• To this end, Charity Navigator has created a "Hunger Alleviation Fund," which divides donations among seven major nonprofits, including Feeding America and Second Harvest, that provide immediate assistance.

• Alternatively, search for food banks in your state or region, Thatcher said: "You can donate locally or nationally; the need is there."

• Many community groups are also collecting food and personal care items to distribute to at-risk families.