Uplift Local: Federal shutdown spurred coordinated local response to food shortages

“Both sides of the river participate in the Columbia Gorge Food Security Coalition,” Martha McInnes, Director for North Central Public Health District covering Wasco and Sherman counties, told Uplift Local.

One of their critical tools, she said, is a collaborative public document listing places to get food, transportation assistance, and ways for people not directly affected to help. Information is in both English and Spanish.

Even as Congress now appears to be moving to re-open the federal government, which should restore funding for two critical federal nutrition programs, the roller coaster and confusion of recent weeks led to significant local coordination and sharing of information and resources.

Local officials saw this coming, voicing concerns at public meetings covered by Uplift Local’s team of Gorge Documenters. On Sept. 30, and again on Oct. 28, Skamania County Community Health Director Tamara Cissell informed the Skamania County Board of Commissioners that the county could run out of money to fully fund its Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in a matter of weeks. 

“We are trying to gather information to identify all the resources we are aware of, so that for people coming through our office, we will be able to share information with them,” she told commissioners Oct. 28.

At the Nov. 4 Klickitat County Board of Health meeting, public health director Erinn Quinn said the her program had $19,000 to administer the WIC program, where typically she would have access to the full annual payment of about $130,000, and “no logistical way” to backfill. 

WIC provides nutrition for needy women, infants and children. The program’s funding uncertainty followed the loss of federal funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at the end of October, also tied to the shutdown.

On Nov. 3, the Trump administration announced it would partially fund SNAP during the shutdown after two federal judges ordered the administration to continue payments. But on Nov. 7, the administration reversed course and appealed the ruling instead. Administration officials are continuing to appeal. 

To fund WIC, the administration reallocated $300 million of unspent tariff funds to keep that program operational through October and last week added another $450 million.

McInnes, of the North Central Public Health District, was riding the roller coaster. Last week she told Uplift Local last week that the program had “just received word that our participants will have benefits through the end of November.” 

Washington state officials made plans to cover WIC benefits through early December and Oregon announced WIC funding through the end of this month.

Oregon officials also told stores that it would, with advance notice, temporarily disable the WIC electronic payment system if money ran out, so vendors would not be able to run transactions that would not be reimbursable, according to McInnes.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health is exploring ways to supply baby formula to families who rely on WIC, and the Washington Food Coalition is working to make food available to those affected by both SNAP and WIC disruptions. 

SNAP, commonly called food stamps, helps a much broader group of people buy groceries.

During the weeks of uncertain federal funding, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP), which operates food banks in Skamania and Klickitat counties, saw a rising demand for its services — including many first-time visitors.

“Not only are we seeing brand new households,” Executive Director Jennifer Pauletto said, “we are also seeing those who haven’t reached out for help in a long time.”

WAGAP is collaborating with other local organizations — including Columbia Gorge Food Bank, FISH Food Bank, the Gorge Food Security Coalition and more than 65 community members — to find creative ways to fill the gap, including directing people to food banks on either side of the river.

“We came together … to talk about creative ways to support the community in this time of need,” Pauletto said. “I’ve had conversations with local health departments who are concerned about WIC continuing past November and we are encouraging households to access the food bank in this time of need.”

But even with cooperation, Pauletto said the scale of need is overwhelming, noting that the rush to fill disrupted federal funding affected other programs.

“We will struggle to meet the needs of households who can’t afford to cover the costs to heat their homes,” she said, noting that WAGAP’s energy assistance program is also under strain.

Pauletto said the greatest need right now is continued community support.

“While community giving cannot bridge the gap created by the federal shutdown, WAGAP welcomes support from the community,” she said, including volunteer help.

Volunteers contribute between 300 and 400 hours a month at each of WAGAP’s  food bank sites. Pauletto asks new volunteers to be patient as staff is stretched thin and may not be able to respond quickly. 

“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have already received with community members dropping off food donations, monetary donations, starting food drives, and reaching out to offer a helping hand.”

How to help

Food banks can often stretch dollars further than we can at the grocery store, by buying in bulk or through long-term contracts. 

But there are many ways to help hungry neighbors — from making a lasagna to cover someone’s utility bill taking a Thanksgiving Day jog. Some people like to work together to help.

• Host a food drive: Businesses, churches, and community groups can organize food drives to support local food banks.

• Share: Spread the word, including the shared community resources document, via social media to connect neighbors in need with resources.