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In Chicago, a spirit of unity is prevailing as various community organizations, including churches and Chicago Animal Care and Control, band together to support individuals impacted by the absence of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits amidst the government shutdown.
On Wednesday, Progressive Baptist Church in Chatham extended a lifeline to thousands of families by distributing groceries.
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Dedicated volunteers spent hours assisting the wave of people who arrived at the intersection of 75th Street and King Drive, eager to secure food supplies.
“Today, we encountered several families who had absolutely nothing until they reached us,” shared Pastor Charlie Dates.
This initiative was conceived by Pastor Dates, who leads both Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church.
“Jesus said it this way, ‘I was hungry and you fed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was in prison and you came to see about me.’ This is a ministry of coming to see people and see about them,” Dates said.
People like Victoria Moore, an emotional senior overwhelmed by the pause of SNAP benefits, are struggling to make ends meet.
“It’s bad. It’s really bad,” Moore said. “I really praise these people for getting out and helping us.”
Alderman William Hall was grateful for the giveaway in his ward.
“I’m just glad it sent a signal that you haven’t been forgotten about,” Hall said.
Because of the overwhelming response, the pastor is considering doing this again to help more families. He said as long as there’s a need, the church will step up to meet it.
Some got help at a West Side grocery store Wednesday.
Betty Bady was grateful to have groceries.
“This was a great blessing because, with things being cut back, prices are high. And food is really getting high. This is a really great blessing,” Bady said.
The West Sider is among the SNAP recipients affected by the interruption of food stamp benefits, who received grocery vouchers Wednesday morning.
The giveaway was the idea of the Rev. Ira Acree, who says he felt moved to help members of his Greater St. John Bible Church, who are struggling to feed their families.
“But I simply wanna make it appeal to the president, who is the leader of the free world, to really understand that 42 million people are fighting to get food on their table,” Acree said.
The 40 Acres Fresh Market on West Chicago Avenue in the city’s Austin neighborhood was packed most of the morning with a line of people waiting to get in to shop.
“What we have here are really special, and we just want to be here for a really long time, for this neighborhood that helped us get to this point in the first place,” owner Liz Abunaw said.
Several other faith leaders and local elected officials were there to support the effort.
And when word spread fast about the $50 voucher, U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stepped up to make sure people not on the original list to get a voucher were still able to get groceries.
“I would not be here, but for the generosity of the American people and the goodwill of the government. And so my modest way of giving back is is make sure other people are helped,” said Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat representing Illinois’ 8th District.
And while the federal cuts and the government shutdown have created an urgent need for many, Claudia Love was just glad to have something to eat.
“After the first of the month, the money goes. So anything is a help. And I thank God for it,” Love said.
SEE ALSO: Talks to end the government shutdown intensify as federal closure is on track to become longest ever
Because of the effort, over 100 people received groceries.
Organizers of the event said it would not be their last. They are planning on a grocery giveaway for Thanksgiving.
Chicago Animal Care and Control was able to host a pet food pantry to support owners impacted by the recent SNAP benefit pause.
“Now with the shutdown and everything going on, this is a blessing,” Sylvia Leyva said.
When financial support came to a halt for thousands of families nationwide, pet owners said it became tricky to keep up with pet costs.
CACC stepped up on Wednesday to alleviate some of that stress by handing out cat and dog food for free.
READ ALSO | Government shutdown becomes longest in history: How we got here and what’s next
“We don’t want any pet to go unfed. We don’t want you, the public, to choose to feed yourself or your pet. We want you to be able to keep your pet in your home. The last place we want your pet is to end up at a shelter because you can’t feed them,” said Susan Cappello, acting executive director of CACC.
People were already lined up by 7:30 a.m.
“To have to be in these lines to get what you need, and I’m disabled. So it’s a lot on my back,” Jackie Smith said.
“Look at all the cars and all the people in line; it shows that some people in the world still care,” Leyva said.
Chicago Animal Care and Control said they had enough supplies for roughly 400 households.
