The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank (HHFB) in response to the ongoing federal government shutdown and its disruption of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
With the USDA announcing that it will not pay November SNAP benefits during the shutdown, over 16,000 residents across HHFB’s six-county service area—including Monroe, Brown, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Owen counties—are at risk of losing critical food assistance. In September alone, those households received more than $3 million in SNAP benefits. Without those benefits, food pantries, shelters, and other charitable food programs face an unprecedented surge in demand.
To meet these emergency needs, Hoosier Hills Food Bank plans to purchase ten truckloads of food, totaling approximately 330,000 pounds—the equivalent of 275,000 meals. The initiative will include frozen turkeys, fresh produce, potatoes, peanut butter, and pre-packed boxes of non-perishable food. These supplies will support HHFB’s 84 partner pantries, shelters, and mobile food programs throughout the region.
Funding for the HHFB’s Emergency Response Plan is being made possible through the Community Foundation’s $100,000 grant, along with support from the Smithville Charitable Foundation ($25,000), Feeding America ($11,500), Monroe County’s Sophia Travis Community Grant program ($6,400), and other private and anonymous contributions.
“Food insecurity is already at the highest levels in a decade, and we and our partners are already seeing very high levels of need,” said HHFB CEO Julio Alonso. “We now expect that to increase significantly if SNAP benefits are interrupted. We didn’t have enough food before, and now we need even more.”
The Community Foundation’s grant was mobilized within days of the USDA announcement to help HHFB respond swiftly to the anticipated increase in food demand.
Tina Peterson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation, emphasized both gratitude and admiration for HHFB’s leadership and impact:
“The Community Foundation exists to serve this community and to respond to circumstances that threaten the well-being of our neighbors,” said Peterson. “The interruption of SNAP benefits has real consequences for families who depend on these funds to eat.”
“Hoosier Hills Food Bank’s swift and compassionate response ensures that local families continue to have access to food and support when it’s needed most,” added Peterson. “We’re proud to support their compassionate leadership during such a challenging time.”
“We’re grateful to our many partners, especially the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, which has stepped up in a big way to help us address this crisis,” added Alonso. “Only as a community can we get through this, and we still need help to do so, but make no mistake – we will get through this.”
How to Help
Community members wishing to support Hoosier Hills Food Bank’s emergency food purchases and ongoing operations can donate directly at hhfoodbank.org. For those seeking food assistance, HHFB maintains an up-to-date list of partner agencies and distribution sites at hhfoodbank.org/find-food.