As SNAP benefits get cut, West Suburban Community Pantry ready to meet extra demand

As federal COVID emergency allotments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are cut as of March 1, some 75,000 DuPage County SNAP beneficiaries face a hit to their food budgets of a third or more.

Seniors who receive the minimum benefit could see their payments fall to as little as $23 a month. And it's happening at a time when food costs across the country continue to be 10-15% higher than a year ago.

West Suburban Community Pantry in Woodridge is currently serving nearly four times the number of DuPage households than it did in 2021 and Pantry food costs have risen approximately 25% in that period. The drop in SNAP benefits portends even greater demand for support. "Our concern is that this shortage of funds will result in a flood of new families seeking our help," says Pantry CEO Suzanne Armato. "When we look at other states that have already experienced benefit cuts, they are seeing an uptick in demand of 20-25%."

The Woodridge Pantry, which also has distribution outlets in a number of other locations in DuPage and Will counties, has been preparing for the onslaught.

"Despite the challenge, we remain committed to ensuring that families get the nutritious food they need to stay healthy, function at work and do well in school," Armato said. "This is a time we need to innovate to meet the demand."

West Suburban is implementing a variety of changes to meet the anticipated demand. In the coming days, they plan to increase the number of weeks qualifying individuals may receive food from the Pantry each month. In addition, they will be upgrading the online ordering experience for customers ordering through the Virtual Food Pantry for pick up on a day and location convenient to them.

"The last thing we want to do is further stress families," says Armato. "Our Virtual Food Pantry gives shoppers the option to order their choice of nutritious foods and household items for pick up with minimal impact to their workday, child-care issues or access to transportation. For those who wish, we are also increasing the number of curated pre-boxed orders that feature a variety of fresh produce, protein, milk, eggs and shelf stable goods. This allows a grab-and-go experience that some individuals may appreciate."

In addition to greater access to food, the West Suburban Community Pantry offers a variety of Support Services that connect families with additional community resources. The team is currently developing resource information to distribute to customers seeking assistance.

"Our goals is to help families thrive," says Armato. " This reduction in SNAP benefits will put quite a strain on the Pantry in the coming months, but with the community's help, we will find ways to sustain the support families need. From nutritious food to mental health support to job readiness and financial literacy, we are committed to helping our neighbors in need get the assistance they need to succeed."

For more information on West Suburban Community Pantry, to review hours and qualification guidelines, visit www.wscpantry.org. access the Virtual Food Pantry at www.virtualfoodpantry.net.