Winter Market Warms Families as SNAP Stalls

SNAP distribution chart (Credit: Markola Williams)

Grow it Forward kicked off the holiday season this weekend with the Winter Farmers Market in Manitowoc. The Saturday event runs from 8 a.m. to noon at The Venue, 702 York Street on the north side of the city.

The organization focuses on providing people in need with access to food. They also give out free meals every Monday at 4:30 p.m. at their building on 1501 Marshall Street, keeping their commitment to the community while the federal government shutdown continues.

The shutdown has lasted 39 days and has left millions of Americans uncertain about the future of their food benefits. Over 40 million people rely on SNAP, and the United States Department of Agriculture warned at the end of October that without new funding, full benefits for November could not be guaranteed. On October 31, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to fully fund November benefits, ruling that suspending them was illegal and urging immediate action.

The numbers show why this matters. About 39 percent of SNAP recipients are children under 18. Another 42 percent are working-age adults who often juggle low-wage jobs or inconsistent hours. Nineteen percent are seniors living on fixed incomes. WIC programs are also affected, with some states warning that funds could run out within weeks if the shutdown continues. A representative with the Manitowoc WIC office stated that individuals on WIC will still have access to benefits and should continue to use them as normal until notified differently.

On November 6, U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell ordered that SNAP funds be processed and released the following day. Individuals on SNAP began seeing their benefits arrive when midnight struck. The future of SNAP is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, which has blocked the lower courts’ order and allowed the Trump administration to withhold payments until a final ruling is made.

While the federal government remains deadlocked, Grow it Forward continues to provide a reliable source of food through the Winter Farmers Market and free Monday meals, supporting families while millions across the country face uncertainty.