FORT WORTH – As the federal government shutdown threatens to pause SNAP benefits and federal paychecks, thousands of North Texans are turning to Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) for help.
“Behind every statistic is a family trying to pay for housing, groceries, and electricity,” said Julie Butner, TAFB President and CEO.
“When paychecks and SNAP benefits are paused, hunger isn’t. With help from H-E-B and local donors, we will keep families fed during the shutdown.”
TAFB’s 500+ hunger-relief partners are seeing rising demand as households lose income and food assistance. Because SNAP provides nine meals for every one supplied by food banks, any suspension dramatically increases pressure on charitable networks.
To meet this urgent need, H-E-B will match all community donations up to $250,000, helping TAFB purchase and distribute food across its 13-county service area.
Impact at a Glance:
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SNAP suspension: More than 11,000 neighbors daily could be affected.
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Federal employees and military: Up to 42,000 families are losing paychecks.
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Baseline food insecurity: Even before the crisis, over 572,000 people, including 187,000 children, faced hunger.
How to Help:
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Find Food: Locate nearby pantries at tafb.org.
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Donate: Every $1 provides five meals for local families.
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Volunteer: Each hour of service helps produce 150 meals for neighbors in need.
“Tarrant Area Food Bank’s network is moving food out the door in real time,” Butner added. “Our community always shows up. With H-E-B’s help, we will keep families nourished during the shutdown.”
For more information, visit www.tafb.org.
