DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — If the government shutdown continues until Nov. 1, food pantries across the country will lose access to funding that helps them provide food to SNAP customers. Even now, food pantries across the Central Illinois region are facing increased numbers.
After buying too much bread for an event at the end of food truck season, Kaylin Cohn, owner of KLC Creations, said she had to find a way to get rid of the leftovers.
"I happened to be scrolling Facebook and seeing, actually, the news article regarding the snap benefits, and it just clicked. I was like, you know, there's no better time to donate to a food pantry than now," Cohn said.
SNAP customers will not have access to any new food benefits starting on Nov. 1 unless the government is reopened. SNAP is 100% government-funded. The federal program provides food assistance to more than 40 million Americans, including nearly two million residents in Illinois.
She says she donated 528 pounds of bread to the Northeast Community Fund in Decatur, which she estimates to be around 4,000 buns. She says the process of donating was overwhelming and really put things into perspective for her.
"Not going to lie, it was an experience dropping it off. It definitely hit a reality check, and you're thankful for what you do have, because seeing people there that did truly need help and was asking for assistance, it was heartbreaking," Cohn said.
According to IDHS, Illinois administers over $350 million in SNAP benefits each month, and the state does not have the budget to backfill those resources if SNAP benefits are cut off.
Top Stories:
Suspect arrested after teen shot and killed in Decatur
DoorDash launches Emergency Food Response to support SNAP families during shutdown
Toledo man charged with 6 felonies including sexual assault, child pornography
Federal food benefits and preschool aid to run dry starting Saturday if shutdown continues
Copyright 2025. WANDTV. All Rights Reserved.
