Food assistance programs see soaring need as SNAP shutdown squeezes Gorge families

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Written By Robin

THE DALLES, Ore. (Nov. 4, 2025) — Local food assistance programs say an urgent surge in need has exhausted new donations within one day as families grapple with the federal shutdown’s disruption of SNAP food benefits.

CCC Archive Photo: Columbia Gorge Food Bank

Columbia Gorge Health Council’s Bridges to Health program, working with Columbia Gorge Food Bank and the Columbia Gorge Food Security Coalition, opened emergency food assistance this week. “We opened the program yesterday and within 24 hours pretty much all of our donated funds are spoken for by families in need,” said Katy Williams, LPN, CHW, the Health Council’s community impact manager. She said a $20,000 Safeway donation, along with other gifts, was matched by requests in a single day and the program now has a waitlist.

Williams said the effort prioritizes households with babies on formula, families with young children, older adults and people with disabilities. She urged community members and local businesses to donate via the “Donate” button on the Columbia Gorge Health Council website, noting that the program purchases grocery gift cards to support a diverse range of needs such as baby formula. Columbia Gorge Health Council

The funding crunch comes as the federal shutdown disrupts November SNAP issuance nationwide. A court-ordered draw on USDA contingency funds will only partially cover this month’s benefits, and timing remains uncertain in many states, putting extra pressure on food banks and mutual-aid programs.

Regional partners report the strain is visible on the ground. Gorge Grown Food Network said its Hood River Farmers Market saw record demand for SNAP Match/Double Up Food Bucks over the weekend.

“We were able to serve all SNAP customers who came to the market seeking their bonus funds: Double Up Food Bucks and/ or SNAP match. Although the process was slow due to shear demand, no one who came to receive funds was turned away, said Farmers Market Operations Director Hannah Nanda. “This weekend, we served over 160 families and distributed over $12,000 in market currency for customers to buy groceries from local farmers. Our team worked incredibly hard to pull this off and ensure no one was turned away.”

State and local agencies have warned that hundreds of thousands of Oregonians rely on SNAP and may face gaps or reductions during the shutdown, with metro jurisdictions already mobilizing extra resources.

Research by USDA’s Economic Research Service finds SNAP dollars ripple through local economies; every $1 in SNAP can generate about $1.54 in economic activity during a slowing economy, underscoring the broader impact of keeping grocery purchasing power in communities like the Gorge.

How to help

  • Donate: Visit Columbia Gorge Health Council’s new Food Assistance page and use the Donate button. Funds are used to purchase food gift cards for local families. Columbia Gorge Health Council

  • Support partners: Columbia Gorge Food Bank and farmers-market SNAP match programs are also seeking support as requests outpace usual capacity. gorgegrown.com

“We can guarantee these funds get to the local people who need it most,” Williams said, adding that systems are over capacity and immediate community giving will help bridge families through the shutdown’s uncertainty.




Robin

Robin is a filmmaker and business consultant in her day-to-day work. She’s received 2 NADO economic development awards in partnership with MCEDD, and has worked across The Mid Columbia on projects that build community health, education, and economy.

With most of her time spent working with clients and the technical aspects of CCCNews, Robin only contributes her writing occasionally.