The last two months in the United States have been stressful for many. For families in November who didn’t receive their anticipated SNAP benefits on time, it was even worse.
Now that the government shutdown is over, and funds are slowly being released to states to then be released to families, we need to address the reality of the situation:
People still need food.
Over 1.3 million people in the state of Georgia alone were sent into a state of stress, uncertainty, and crisis when they were told they wouldn’t be receiving their food stamps. Food stamps, the former, yet still often used name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are distributed throughout the month; so, while many Georgia families were not affected directly, the anticipation of not having food to eat is taxing on every aspect of one’s life.
In response to the shutdown, we at Urban Recipe were able to mobilize our network, increase our emergency response through our Mobile Pantry, and will continue to do so for all of November. We have food distributions around the city all month. Thanks to our partners and donors, we have been able to provide free food to hundreds of families we normally would not reach.
Through this tumultuous time, one thing has become clear: we need to expand our food co-op model. When you talk about food security, you have to address just that: security. Where is the next meal coming from? Will you have food to feed your children tomorrow? Will there be fresh vegetables next week? How about protein next month? Any member of an Urban Recipe Food Co-op can answer those questions with clarity.
Co-op members receive food every two weeks, all year long. Many of our co-op members lost access to their SNAP benefits this month. But, unlike so many, they knew there was going to be some food in the house.
“Food stamps don’t go so far, and I wasn’t sure how I could keep up. There were times when I was running out of things, important things, essentials. Real food. So I was happy find out about co-op.”
– Co-op 2 member Beverly
At Urban Recipe, we aim to provide approximately 50% of the food a family needs. Co-op members have reported more full pantries, less fear in the face of the ever-changing news, and even the capacity to share with their neighbors.
The Food Co-op model is a recipe for food security. It provides community and sustained support alongside the free food.
We are working to partner with more organizations and train communities to adopt our co-op model through our Cooperative Pathway Program. Since its launch in 2023, the CPP program has fed hundreds of people by helping start four co-ops and take over another. That marks hundreds of families that were able to weather the stresses of this last two months that may have been disastrous without the co-op.
We are seeking new partners, ready with need, volunteers, and funds to partner with us to feed more people through the food co-op model. Learn more about our CPP program or reach out to our Programs and Operations Director Jamillah.
Though this month we are still in emergency response mode, we aim to expand, deepen our impact, and help support even more families every single day.
