Government Shutdown Response

• November 05, 2025
• Gabriel Garcia

How El Pasoans Fighting Hunger is Responding to the Government Shutdown

Across the country, the ongoing federal government shutdown is putting pressure on families, workers, and critical nutrition programs. Here in El Paso and across our three county region, we are already seeing neighbors turn to us who have never needed food assistance before.

At El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, our mission remains the same: make sure every family in our community has access to nutritious food, especially in times of crisis. Below is an update on what we are seeing, what we are doing, and how you can help.

Food banks are first responders during crises

In recent days, more families are visiting our food bank for the first time. Many are federal employees and contractors who are missing paychecks. Others are working families whose budgets can no longer stretch as far due to rising costs.

Our shelves are being stretched, but our commitment to our community remains strong. When our neighbors experience hardship, food banks are often the first line of support. We are stepping up, and we are counting on the community to stand with us.

SNAP benefits delayed. Families at risk.

SNAP benefits are normally distributed throughout the month, but due to the shutdown, the November benefits will not be issued on schedule.

• More than 3.5 million Texans rely on SNAP
• Half of all SNAP recipients in Texas are children
• Nearly 15 percent are older adults

In our region alone, approximately 144,872 people depend on SNAP to help put food on the table. When those funds are delayed, families turn to us.

Food banks are here to help, but resources are limited. Continued delays will stretch our system even further.

A crisis on top of a crisis

Even before the shutdown, families across our region were struggling with rising food costs and a difficult economic climate. Now, missed paychecks and delayed benefits are intensifying food insecurity across the borderland.

This situation is a reminder of how close many families are to hunger. One missed paycheck can mean an empty refrigerator.

How we are preparing

El Pasoans Fighting Hunger is taking proactive steps to serve our community:

• Increasing food orders and monitoring inventory daily
• Working closely with Feeding Texas for real-time updates and statewide coordination
• Preparing for increased demand at our distribution sites and partner pantries
• Supporting community organizations that serve federal workers

We recently delivered 150 emergency food boxes to the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1050, representing TSA staff at El Paso International Airport, along with other organizations supporting impacted workers. This is only the beginning. We will continue to respond quickly and compassionately as needs grow.

Food banks are built for moments like this. We have weathered hard times before, and we will do it again.

How you can help

Donate

Your generosity today will help us respond to this growing need. Every dollar helps us provide meals for families facing a missed paycheck or delayed benefits.

Right now, your gift goes twice as far thanks to a matching gift from the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation and an Anonymous Fund held at the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. One dollar helps provide 14 meals during this match period.

To donate, click here or contribute by phone, mail, or in person.

Volunteer

As additional food arrives at the food bank in response to the government shutdown, we have a strong need for volunteers. This next weekend (Friday, November 7th, and Saturday November 8th) and the following weekend (Friday, November 14th, and Saturday November 15th) we will be having a critical need for volunteers at the food bank to put together emergency food boxes. Volunteers help break down pallets of food that arrive by the truckload and prepare food for distribution across our network.

You can walk in and volunteer at the food bank Tuesday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. We recommend registering ahead of time by following this link. If volunteering as a group, please contact our volunteer coordinator Maria 'Toni' Bustamante at (915) 253-4926 or mbustamante@epfhfb.org. Your time makes a direct and immediate impact!

We are here for you

If you or someone you know is affected by the shutdown, we are here to help. No one should go hungry because of a missed paycheck. Visit elpasoansfightinghunger.org to find food resources and support.

Together, we will get through this. Together, we feed El Paso.

*Information about the federal government shutdown and SNAP benefits is changing quickly. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger is committed to sharing the most accurate and timely information available. We are actively monitoring updates from Feeding Texas and state and federal agencies and will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.