Local food banks struggle to meet increased needs

Local food banks are reporting an uptick in need since the government shutdown. The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle says anywhere between 100 and 300 more people have received services between August and September. Their staff is expecting those numbers will go up as more federal workers are impacted by the shutdown.
Posted 10/22/2025, 5:17:08 PM Updated 10/22/2025, 6:00:07 PM

HEIST. THESE TOOK 8 PIECES

WORTH 100 MILLION DOLLARS.

>> ALL RIGHT. GRACE, THANK YOU.

LOCAL FOOD BANKS ARE REPORTING

AN UPTICK IN NEED SINCE THE

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. THE

INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE SAYS

ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10300 MORE

PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES

BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

THEIR STAFF IS EXPECTING THOSE

NUMBERS WILL GO UP AS MORE

FEDERAL WORKERS ARE IMPACTED BY

THE SHUTDOWN BETWEEN THE END

OF COVID FUNDING FEDERAL CUTS

AND NO STATE BUDGET. THE STAFF

SAYS THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO

MEET THE NEED.

>> HOW DO WE DO MORE WITH LESS?

BECAUSE THERE'S A BIGGER NEED,

BUT WE HAVE FEWER DOLLARS.

WE USED TO GET STATE FUNDS AND

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST YEAR

THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET

THAT ARE OUT THERE, THEY HAVE

CUT FOOD BANK FUNDING FOR THE

FIRST TIME IN. 35 YEARS.

>> SNAP BENEFITS ARE EXPECTED

TO LAST AT LEAST UNTIL NEXT

WEEK. THE NORTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES SENT OUT A NOTICE.

THEY SAY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT

OF AGRICULTURE DOES NOT HAVE

ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND SNAP

THROUGH NOVEMBER. THE USDA IS

ASKING STATES TO WITHHOLD