With potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, pending on Halloween, many are ditching the candy and giving back to their community by distributing nonperishable food.
KC Neufeld didn’t expect much of a response when she posted on her neighborhood’s Facebook page in Denver that her family was handing out ramen and packages of macaroni and cheese in addition to candy this Halloween.
However, within two days, about 3,000 people had responded, with many saying they would follow suit.
Neufeld, 33, said: “This post blew up a lot more than I anticipated and I’m very unprepared.
The mother of 4-year-old twins was hoping to make a small difference in her working-class neighborhood as food aid for tens of millions of vulnerable Americans is expected to end Friday due to a government shutdown.
“I wish I could buy this whole aisle of Costco,” he added. “I can’t. But I’ll do whatever I can.”
Neufeld is one of many people across the U.S. preparing to hand out shelf-stable food to trick-or-treaters this year to fill the void left by possible cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps one in eight Americans buy groceries.
A flood of shared posts have popped up over the past few days as many people are looking for ways to help offset this surge in need. Some posts suggest foods to stock up on, while others show a stockpile of cheese sticks, small grains, canned soup, or even newly acquired diapers.
Posts are often followed by a series of comments from people announcing similar plans, along with plenty of reminders not to forget the candy.
Emily Archambault, 29, and her sister Taylor Martin, 29, eat pasta and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, cereal and other treats along with diapers and wipes on Halloween in La Porte, Indiana. They are also collecting donations from their church members.
Their plan is to put everything on a table away from where they give out candy so families can take what they need without worrying about judgment.
“It takes some pressure off the parents,” Martin said. “You’re trick-or-treating, and it’s there, and your kids probably won’t even notice you’re taking it.”
Archamble said she relied on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, after her son’s medical complications forced her to take a break. Losing that aid meant turning to food pantries. And while he said there are great people in his area, he expects to be outnumbered.
“We have to unite,” he said. “I’m grateful that I received benefits and I’m even grateful that I can now give back.”
Erica Dutka, who depends on SNAP to feed herself and her three children in Archbald, Pennsylvania, went to a tailgate Sunday with people handing out candy from the trunks of cars. She said she was relieved to eat ramen packets, oatmeal, juice, pretzels and fruit snacks in addition to sugary treats.
The 36-year-old – who works two jobs and goes to school full time – said the meal meant she would have plenty of school snacks for her children for the rest of the week and could save $100 on her last SNAP fund.
“It buys me more time,” he said. “Maybe things will change. Maybe it will turn on again.”
Neufeld, a Denver mom who stocked up on shelf-stable items for trick-or-treaters, said she relies on the food bank at her college to get through school. He said most people never knew he was actually struggling. And now, with the snap dry, he wants people to remember not to assume anything about others.
“You don’t really know what other people are going through,” he said. “So even if they don’t look like they need help, it’s still important to help whenever you can because it can make a big difference.”
