As the federal government shutdown dragged on, and as its effects continue to linger, Long Island food pantries have seen the strain firsthand — with rising demand, dwindling resources and growing anxiety over when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will resume.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court extended a short-term order allowing the Trump administration to continue withholding full SNAP payments through Thursday, delaying aid for the more than 40 million Americans who rely on the program.
The uncertainty has become one of the most tangible effects of the shutdown. On Long Island, food relief organizations like Nosh Delivers, in Glen Cove, say they have already seen the impact.
“There’s been heightened concern about the impact of getting food,” said Margaret Myhan, Nosh Delivers’ executive director. “Island Harvest and Long Island Cares have stressed to all of the pantries they provide food to their own concern about having availability of food.”
Despite those warnings, Myhan said that Nosh has managed so far, thanks to successful food drives and an outpouring of community support. “Families and schools have been particularly sensitive to this time,” she said. “If anything, the positive side is more potential clients have signed up for help.”
In recent weeks, Nosh has seen registrations nearly double. “Our norm of people that come in and sign up in a week is somewhere between three and four,” Myhan said. “It’s been closer to seven.” She added that “more people are coming in to retrieve food,” and that the number of walk-ins has climbed by 20 to 25 percent since last year.
The organization currently serves about 1,800 walk-ins per month, and makes home deliveries to roughly 750 families, a 25 percent increase over last year. About half of those who use it are families with children.
“The school system provides 180 days of breakfast and lunch,” Myhan said. “There are 185 other days that families are on their own to supplement what the kids would be getting in school. It’s really the children that families are most concerned about — how are they going to feed their kids in a difficult time?”
Nosh reports that roughly 2,500 children receive food through the program each month. While volunteers have stepped up their efforts, the pantry faces challenges replenishing supplies, particularly after the end of the summer growing season. “The food resources we would have, in terms of farms, have dwindled,” Myhan explained. “There’s a great demand for soups and for vegetables in terms of canned goods, because local produce isn’t available.”
Canned corn, beans, mixed vegetables, soups, and one- to two-pound bags of rice are in greatest demand, she said, adding, “Donations are always extremely welcome. That gives us the ability to purchase additional food.”
Christine Rice, the organization’s chair, said that the instability surrounding SNAP has intensified fear among families that are already struggling. “Even with or without this issue with SNAP, people need food,” Rice said. “The government shutdown and the discontinuation of SNAP, which now, supposedly, is going to continue, not only makes people afraid — the thought of not being able to feed their children is a terrifying thought to them.”
Myhan noted that rising food costs have compounded the pressure. “New York’s metro food prices have surged,” she said. “Since 2015, they’ve gone up 56 percent, whereas the national average is 46 percent. And the projected increase in food prices for 2026 is 2.7 percent.”
She added that some first-time visitors are visibly uncomfortable. “It’s embarrassing,” she said. “They never thought they would see themselves in the position of having to ask for help.”
To respond to the growing need, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency last week and announced that Island Harvest and Long Island Cares would each receive $50,000 per week in emergency county funding until SNAP payments resume.
“With the issues that are going on in Washington, D.C., right now, there are many people who are in jeopardy of not being able to feed themselves and their families,” Blakeman said. “We are trying to help and supplement the things that a lot of our great not-for-profits are doing here on Long Island.”
Roughly 31,450 Nassau households depend on SNAP benefits. According to county officials, the emergency funding is intended to support food distribution and pantry operations while federal payments remain stalled. In a statement to the Herald, Rep. Tom Suozzi said the lapse in federal benefits underscores the human cost of political gridlock. “Children, seniors, the disabled, veterans — really no one — should go hungry because of political fights in Washington,” Suozzi said. “SNAP benefits need to reach families now.”
This marks the first time in the program’s history that SNAP payments have been allowed to lapse, despite the availability of a Department of Agriculture contingency fund containing more than $5 billion. Across Long Island, the program provides nearly $40 million in monthly assistance.
The larger story, Myhan, said, is one of community solidarity amid hardship. “We’ve had people come back to say, ‘You helped me when I was in my time of need, and I would like to volunteer now,’” she said. “The appreciation isn’t just a short-term meal on the table — it’s the longer-term impact on their lives.”
