Even as the Trump administration announced it would restore federal food benefits at half their usual levels, United Methodists across the United States rallied to feed hungry people while the U.S. government shutdown continues.
Two federal judges ordered the restoration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits Oct. 31, instructing the federal administration to use a $5 billion contingency fund appropriated by Congress. On Nov. 3, President Donald Trump announced SNAP would resume Nov. 7, but payments would be cut in half — defying the court order.
The average SNAP benefit is $187 per month. An estimated 42 million Americans rely on federal food supplement benefits that have been suspended during the government shutdown.
With more than 23,000 local churches around the United States, United Methodists sponsor food pantries and participate in community feeding programs and other ministries aimed at reducing food insecurity.
With more than 23,000 local churches around the United States, United Methodists sponsor food pantries and participate in community feeding programs and other ministries aimed at reducing food insecurity. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries announced Oct. 30 it has created an emergency program, Feeding Our Neighbors, offering up to $2,000 in immediate grants for United Methodist food ministries and pantries. Churches and food ministries can apply for one of 50 grants through Dec. 15.
Global Ministries also is developing a grant for Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, reported Heather Hahn of UM News. “Once finalized and approved by the board of directors, the grant will support Feeding America’s Regional Food Sourcing Initiative, which recovers and redistributes surplus produce, protein and dairy.”
Since annual conferences, rather than local churches, are the “basic unit” of The United Methodist Church, much of the denomination’s response to the food crisis is being coordinated through conferences. As of Nov. 3, these are some reported efforts:
In the UMC’s Greater Northwest Episcopal Area covering Oregon, Washington, Alaska and part of Idaho, Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth issued a pastoral statement urging churches to “show up” for their neighbors. The bishop quoted Isaiah 58:10: “If you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted, your light will shine in the darkness.”
Noting SNAP provides nine meals for every meal served at a food bank, Bishop Bridgeforth asked United Methodists to give generously, volunteer, check on neighbors and church members and contact elected officials to demand action on the government shutdown that endangers SNAP and other vital social programs.
In Arkansas Annual Conference, communicator Amy Ezell reported conference feeding/literacy project coordinator Samantha Menly organized an online call including Bishop Laura Merrill, district superintendents, representatives of Arkansas Food Bank and local volunteers to receive information and begin planning how to meet the crisis.
“More than 300,000 Arkansas will not have this food assistance available to them in November,” Ezell wrote.
In Mountain Sky Annual Conference, which covers Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and part of Idaho, Bishop Kristin Stoneking estimated “almost 1 million of our family across Mountain Sky will lose compassionate support from the US federal government that keeps hunger at bay.”
“The bishop urged churches to feed anyone needing help without inquiring about their political or other affiliations.”
She also encouraged churches to aid federal workers furloughed without pay. In a pastoral message, the bishop urged churches to feed anyone needing help without inquiring about their political or other affiliations, in obedience to Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 25:42-45.
In Rio Texas Conference, based in San Antonio and covering Southwestern Texas from Austin to the U.S. border with Mexico, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey also referred to Matthew 25, urging United Methodists in her region to “fill the gap” in food assistance. She asked church members to give a portion of their personal food budgets to local food pantries and ask community groups, neighbors and friends to contribute to church food pantries to keep them restocked during the emergency.
Other United Methodist food ministries — often based in local congregations — are responding to the food crisis in various ways, from food pantries to marketplaces to distributing gift cards.
For example, United Methodist Church of Libertyville in Illinois is distributing Walmart gift cards, each valued at $20, to support active-duty military personnel and their families at the nearby Naval Station Great Lakes.
And members of Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leewood, Kan., have brought pizza and notes of support for air traffic controllers at Kansas City International Airport. Multi-campus Resurrection is the largest United Methodist church in the U.S. and operates a food pantry at its Overland Park location as well as a mobile food pantry that gives out food around Kansas City.