City on a Hill Ministries, a partnership of multiple churches, is open every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., providing food, clothing, baby supplies, toys, household items and more to those in need in the community. Courtesy photo

As the federal government shutdown drags on — and with it, uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits — food pantries across Collin County say they are already seeing a surge of new clients at a time when demand typically spikes ahead of Thanksgiving.

While the county ranks 50th in the state, there are still roughly 11,600 food stamp recipients, according to the Statistical Atlas website.

Last week, the USDA said it planned to tap into a contingency fund to issue up to 50% of the usual monthly benefits, but as of press time, payments were still delayed.

In Farmersville, the need is equally urgent. The city ranks No. 1 in Collin County for food stamp recipients as a percentage of all households, followed by Blue Ridge and then Princeton.

Farmersville Outreach Alliance, a ministry that provides assistance to Farmersville families twice a month, posted a social media plea showing the grim reality of bare shelves after serving 60 families last week.

In response, leaders are asking for financial assistance or immediate food donations to restock core items at FarmersvilleOutreach.com.

Serving families every Sunday in Farmersville, City on a Hill Ministries (COHM) is a partnership of multiple churches “to help the poor and the suffering,” according to its website. They are currently serving 40 to 45 families every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

“We are seeing new clients who have lost their jobs,” said Tracy Barber of First Baptist Farmersville. “We are also seeing clients returning who have not needed assistance for the last few years —losing SNAP benefits has led them to seek assistance.”

COHM provides food, clothing, baby supplies, toys, household items and more, including help with individual emergencies such as disasters, foster care placements and job loss.

In nearby McKinney, Samaritan Inn recently assumed the food pantry and emergency assistance program previously operated by Community Lifeline Center. The center’s food pantry will remain at its current location, 1601 N. Waddill St. in McKinney, and will be open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

In southeastern Collin County, the need is also rising at Hope for the Cities, a Wylie-based nonprofit that provides assistance to the hungry and the homeless.

“We have added over 20 families we are delivering to in the past week,” said director Jon Bailey. “The needs are both for food and financial assistance.” Bailey said the pantry is especially low on protein items such as tuna, canned chicken and soup, as well as mac and cheese, oats and beans.

“It has definitely been building already with inflation, but it’s part of the perfect storm with the shutdown,” he added.

November is typically known among many pantries as a “food month,” Bailey said, because many families seek assistance before the holidays. The shutdown has made those seasonal challenges more severe.

“Oh, my goodness — we are already seeing a lot more new clients the past two weeks,” said Karen Ellis, director of Amazing Grace Food Pantry, which serves many communities in eastern Collin County. Ellis said immediate needs include frozen meat and turkeys, stuffing mix, gravy, canned soup, cereal, canned meat and shelf-stable milk.

At 5 Loaves Ministries in Sachse, Executive Director Rebekah Rodgers said they are seeing more families arriving each day, both new clients and returning households who are struggling under the current uncertainty.

“We’ve already seen an increase in the number of families visiting 5 Loaves and in new client registrations as people begin to feel the effects,” she said. “At the same time, we’ve been incredibly encouraged by the outpouring of support from our local community.”

Rodgers said the best way residents can help is by donating to their local food pantry directly.

“Monetary donations make an even greater impact — they allow us to purchase food at wholesale costs and stretch every dollar further,” she said.

Across North Texas, larger organizations are preparing for the same strain. The North Texas Food Bank offered support on social media for those affected by the government shutdown. “Whether you’re a federal employee, a contractor, or work for a business affected, you don’t have to face this uncertainty alone.”

Local pantries say their message is simple; support now will determine whether they can keep up with what is expected to be one of the busiest months in recent years.

“As we prepare to meet the increased need, we’re grateful for the community’s compassion and partnership,” Rodgers said.

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