Dear Friend, 

The reopening of the government has given us all a moment to breathe. I am relieved that kids can be kids and not hungry, and that SNAP benefits are once again reaching the families and seniors who rely on them for nourishment. Most of all, I am humbled by the overwhelming response from our helpers, our doers, and our neighbors who showed up with compassion and urgency. I saw neighbors helping neighbors in ways big and small, every effort meaningful and extraordinary. Thank you for what you have done and continue todo.

When we asked for help, more than1,100 volunteer shifts were filled and food drives popped up overnight. Your generosity allowed us to quickly order 15 tractor-trailer loads of groceries. When we shared our neighbors’ stories, you listened and you cared. During the first two weeks of November, our network served 50 percent more families than this time last year. Every dollar, every can, and every hour made a collective difference. You made that possible. 

It would be easy to assume everything is back to normal now that the shutdown has ended and SNAP benefits have been restored. But for far too many families, “normal” wasn’t stable to begin with. Even before this disruption, food insecurity in our region was the highest it had been in nearly a decade. For these families, “normal” means wondering how to make ends meet and living with the reality that a single unexpected expense can unravel an already fragile budget. 

Now, even with benefits restored, many families will begin next month already behind. A missed or reduced benefit affects more than just food. It disrupts a household’s entire financial balance. Families who had to shift money toward groceries are now catching up on rent, utilities, transportation, and medical needs. We’ve heard from parents doing everything they can to keep food on the table and from seniors stretching fixed incomes to cover both groceries and medication. These choices have consequences that will not disappear overnight.

The impact of this crisis will linger, which is why our focus now is to support families as they recover the stability they lost, to restock shelves to meet continued demand, and to help neighbors rebuild their financial footing and resilience in the weeks ahead.

As many of us prepare to gather and share a meal next week for Thanksgiving, I hope we pause to remember the neighbors who will also share a meal because you stepped up. Your generosity strengthened the safety net that thousands of families will rely on throughout the holidays and into the recovery ahead.

We have a long road ahead of us, but I see so much to be grateful for. Thank you for standing with us, for showing up, and believing that no one in our community should go hungry. 

Mr. Rogers famously said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” We know this work is far from over, and many neighbors still need our help. Stay involved. Volunteer when you can, support when you’re able, and keep telling the Food Bank’s story. Together, we can make sure our neighbors have a place to turn today and in the weeks ahead. Let’s keep going, let’s keep helping, and let’s keep fighting for the belief that no one should go hungry. 

Let’s keep doing good…together.

With gratitude,
Melissa
President & CEO ‍