As the federal government shutdown drags on, millions of Texans are facing uncertainty over their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Without congressional action, payments could be delayed or halted in November, threatening food security for more than 3.4 million Texans, including 1.7 million children. Food banks and mutual aid groups across the state are stepping up to meet the growing demand.
The Trump Administration’s decision to let SNAP benefits lapse is a deliberate political move, using hunger as leverage in ongoing budget negotiations and forcing working families, seniors, and children to bear the brunt of the shutdown’s impact.
Feeding Texas, the statewide network of 21 regional food banks covering all 254 counties, has activated its “Find My Food Bank” interactive map to help families locate assistance near them. The network coordinates resources for emergency food distributions, helps families apply for SNAP, WIC (benefits for Women, Infants, & Children), and Medicaid, and partners with local mutual aid groups to expand coverage to underserved areas.
Additionally, other major regional partners are mobilizing across the state:
| Regional Partner | Counties Served | Services Offered |
| Central Texas Food Bank | Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coryell, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Gillespie, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Limestone, Llano, McLennan, Milam, Mills, San Saba, Travis, Williamson | Special food distributions for people who rely on SNAP. You do not need to show proof that you receive SNAP benefits. |
| Houston Food Bank | Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Waller, Walker, Washington | If your SNAP benefits or pay have been interrupted, register online for a special distribution site near you. |
| North Texas Food Bank | Collin, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Navarro, Rockwall | Special food distributions intended for federal employees and neighbors whose SNAP benefits have been paused due to the government shutdown. Bring your Lone Star Card or a valid federal ID to help expedite the process. |
| Tarrant Area Food Bank | Bosque, Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise | Tarrant Area Food Bank distributes food to pantries and other nonprofits across North Texas. Search online to find a local food pantry. Call ahead to confirm pantry hours. |
| South Plains Food Bank | Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Gaines, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Scurry, Stonewall, Terry, Yoakum | Fill out the Food Assistance Application Form online. Find children’s feeding sites and hours online. |
| East Texas Food Bank | Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Leon, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood | Enter your address, city, or ZIP code to find food pantries, mobile distributions, and other feeding programs near you. |
| San Antonio Food Bank | Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Coke, Comal, Concho, Crockett, Edwards, Frio, Guadalupe, Irion, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, McCulloch, Mason, Medina, Menard, Reagan, Real, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Tom Green, Uvalde, Wilson, Zavala | Find a food distribution site near you for immediate food assistance. |
For a full list of regional food banks and local partners, Texans can consult the Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Square Meals” directory or Texas Health and Human Services’ Food Bank Network Providers page.
Shutdown-related disruptions are also impacting early childhood programs like Head Start, leaving some families struggling with childcare alongside food insecurity.
For those not currently affected by this shutdown, Texas AFT encourages you to take action:
- Urge Congress to restore SNAP funding using AFT’s national e-action portal here.
- Donate to AFT’s Disaster Relief Fund, which will be used to support and stock food pantries in areas most affected. You can also use this Texas AFL-CIO link to donate directly to Feeding Texas.
We also encourage members to work with their neighbors, local unions, and community organizations to host food drives. Feeding America has a how-to guide for hosting them here.