All districts — As the nation faces a pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the federal government shutdown, local districts are sending out communication on resources and stepping up to make sure families have the food they need.
Godwin Heights Public Schools, for example, has sent out communications directing families to United Way, food pantries including Family Network, and local ministries United Church Outreach Ministry and Streams. The district also hosts Feeding America West Michigan food trucks once a month at Godwin Heights High School. The next distribution is Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Other districts including Grand Rapids, Cedar Springs and Rockford have sent communication to families, linking them to local food pantries and outreach organizations. Grand Rapids posted a list of resources on its website.
“At Godwin Heights, we remain deeply committed to supporting the well-being of our students and families — both inside and outside the classroom,” said Godwin Heights Superintendent Chad Conklin. “If changes to SNAP benefits move forward, our district will continue to step up and provide access to food resources through our schools and community partnerships. No child should ever have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and we will work together to ensure that every family in our Godwin community has the support they need during this time.”
Unless the federal Legislature comes up with a last-minute decision to fund the program, SNAP runs out of money Saturday, Nov. 1. States are now figuring out how to feed millions of people. On Oct. 30, the Michigan Senate approved $71 million toward food assistance during the pause, with the bill headed to the house. Also on Oct. 30, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the State of Michigan will provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of West Michigan.
Whitmer also led an effort with 21 governors in this letter urging the Trump administration to prevent the disruption. She also joined a multistate lawsuit in October against the Trump administration regarding the suspension of SNAP benefits.
In addition, Whitmer is urging state departments to pull together a list of regional and local programs and resources that people can use to get food; continue Double Up Food Bucks, a program that gives Michigan families money to purchase groceries including fresh fruits and vegetables; and support Hunters Feeding Families, a program that helps Michiganders get venison or other fresh game to feed their families. Michigan also provides free school meals to all students.
A Hard Hit for Vulnerable Populations
The situation is not one to take lightly, said Kent School Services Network Executive Director Keenan King. KSSN works with community partners and organizations to efficiently meet needs in school communities.
“This is going to be a huge problem for our most vulnerable students,” he said. “The need for our services has never been greater.”
In Kent County, 76,172 individuals currently receive SNAP benefits, according to information from KConnect. Of those, 32,000 are children.
Statewide, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 13% of Michigan households — approximately 1.4 million people — receive SNAP benefits. About 43% are families with children.
In 2024, the average SNAP household in Michigan received $337.60 in SNAP benefits per month, or $178 per person.
In Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights, Grand Rapids, Kenowa Hills, Kentwood and Sparta, KSSN community school coordinators are working directly with families to connect them with resources, ensuring food and other needs are met.
King said KSSN is working to be even more strategic in streamlining access due to the pause in benefits. They partner with Kids Food Basket, for example, to make sure students go home from school with sack suppers.
“There is a sense of urgency, and we are making sure we aren’t wasting too much time,” King said.
Food insecurity has a domino effect, leading families to choose between food and other things like transportation or utilities. Oftentimes that leads to students having poor attendance, King said.
“These things will definitely be exacerbated by cold weather,” he said.
‘This is going to be a huge problem for our most vulnerable students.’
— KSSN Executive Director Keenan King
Loss of Benefits Wide-reaching
Effects of loss of benefits are wide-reaching. The projected overall impact per month of the loss of SNAP benefits amounts to nearly $25 million in lost economic activity for Kent County, according to a KConnect analysis.
“Every day that SNAP benefits are not funded in Kent County, children, families and the economy lose $813,333 per day. That amounts to $564.81 per second,” said Katie Adrianse, KConnect director of communications.
Without benefits, families spend less money on groceries, which affects distributors, farmers and manufacturers. That eventually leads to fewer job opportunities and reduced hours in retail, transportation and food production, and even less economic activity.
“It’s a snowball effect,” said Mark Woltman, KConnect vice president of strategy and learning. “First of all, children and families are going to be immediately affected by this. They will notice a difference. Then you will start noticing at grocery stores. … They will see less dollars flowing in. ”
And the issue trickles down the food supply chain from there, to trucking to agriculture to packaging, eventually impacting every industry, he said.
“One in every 10 Michigan workers participates in SNAP; with even fewer resources for food we can expect higher worker absenteeism and lower productivity,” Adrianse said. “A lot of folks are already stretched very thin, and now that they are absorbing this additional demand, they are going to have to start diverting resources from other essential services. Even if you aren’t receiving SNAP benefits, it still impacts the county as a whole.”
Reporter Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this article.
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