How Phoenix Stepped Up Amidst the Lapse in SNAP Funding
- Cate Lenegan
- Nov 18
- 3 min read
Trenton Ashdown, Cate Lenegan
PHOENIX -- The end of the government shutdown means the reinstatement of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for 12% of Arizonans, 855,273 to be exact.
During the lapse in funding, food banks, non-profits and local restaurants in Phoenix attempted to feed those who would have otherwise faced extreme food insecurity.
SNAP benefits expired on Nov. 1st when the U.S. The Department of Agriculture chose to not dip into its emergency funds to maintain SNAP. Typically, that funding for Arizona would amount to $150 million dollars monthly.
In an attempt to fill the gap, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs promised a total of $3.6 million dollars in aid to the Arizona Food Bank Network, the Network’s Emergency Tribal Community SNAP Response, and Food Bucks Now, an emergency fresh food program.
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who was waiting to be sworn in during the government shutdown, said her concern was the increased demand faced by local food banks.
She said there was “no way” any organization attempting to “supplement the gap,” left by SNAP benefits would be able to fully take the place of national assistance.
“We have so many people that depend on SNAP benefits in order to feed their families,” Grijalva said.
Pitchfork Pantry, an ASU student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit, worked to support the community while SNAP remained in the balance. While it is an ASU-run organization, the campus-specific pantries operate out of community centers, so its food is easily available for all.
Maureen McCoy, the ASU faculty advisor for Pitchfork Pantry, said “Any community member could still show up and we will always provide assistance.”
The lapse in funding did not cause an immediate decline in Pitchfork’s volume of food, but the longer SNAP remained partially or completely without funding the more likely it was that the pantry would begin to feel those impacts, McCoy said.
When the news about SNAP broke there was a noticeable increase in the amount of donations from Pitchfork’s Amazon Wishlist and more people reached out, asking how they could help and looking for volunteer opportunities.
“Oftentimes, in these situations, the community that surrounds us really does step up … when it can’t come from other sources at least we can take care of each other,” McCoy said.
Thunderbird Lounge, a 1970’s themed bar located within Phoenix’s Melrose District, also saw an astonishing outpouring of community support as a result of lapsing SNAP benefits.
“We've kind of always prided ourselves on being a community bar and we've always kind of done a lot of stuff to raise awareness and help the community,” said Jeremiah Gratza, the co-owner of Thunderbird Lounge.
The bar already collaborates with St. Mary’s Food Bank to hold a food drive every November, but Gratza said that turnout this year was nearly quadruple as it was in previous years, collecting over 17 boxes of non-perishable food items.
“The Melrose is very unique, we have a special overlay,” Gratza said. Due to zoning laws, all businesses along 7th Ave, where Thunderbird Lounge is located, must be locally owned. Other restaurants in that area have also made efforts to assist those losing access to SNAP benefits.
“Our friends across the street, Boycott, they just did a huge fundraiser,” he said. “The whole Melrose community definitely gathers around in time of need” Gratza said.
Although SNAP benefits have been restored, Thunderbird Lounge intends to keep the food drive running through the end of the year. The bar is still accepting non-perishable food items and will be hosting Thanksgiving festivities, with free sandwiches from Capriotti's available for those who have nowhere else to go for the holiday.
As for Pitchfork Pantry, their next Pop-Up Market will be at Tempe’s First United Methodist Church on Dec. 6th from 9-10am, but food can be picked up at all four locations in the Valley at select times provided on their website.
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