As SNAP Goes Dark in November, Food Bank of Wyoming Braces for a Surge

The original story by John Habershaw for Wyoming News Now.

With the federal shutdown rolling into a fourth week, thousands of Wyoming residents are about to lose a key lifeline: November SNAP benefits won’t be distributed starting this Saturday. The Food Bank of Wyoming says it’s ramping up fast to fill the gap.

“SNAP is a really important part of someone’s budget,” said Danica Sveda, the Food Bank’s executive director.

Roughly 29,000 Wyomingites — about 4.9% of the state — rely on the program each month.

“People do the work to apply because it matters for their families and their budgets,” she added.

With benefits halted as of Nov. 1, the Food Bank is buying more food and coordinating with hunger-relief partners statewide. In Riverton, that means adding another mobile pantry to better serve communities on the Wind River Reservation. More fresh produce is on the way, too — and produce remains free across the Food Bank’s network.

Sveda’s message to anyone worried about groceries this month is simple: come in, no judgment.

“People are really scrambling, trying to think of what they’ll do,” she said. “Please don’t feel bad about going to a local food pantry if you need it.”

If you’re in a position to help, local pantries need you now — donations of food, cash, or volunteer time all make a difference for the roughly 28,000–29,000 neighbors who won’t see SNAP dollars hit their accounts this weekend.

Need food or want to pitch in? Find your nearest pantry here: https://wyomingfoodbank.org/find-food/