The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) recently shared an update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicating that food assistance for nearly 188,000 Kansans may be at risk due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, is a food assistance program funded by the federal government that provides low-income families with supplemental nutrition assistance to purchase food.
The ongoing federal government shutdown has now threatened to cut off those benefits in November due to a lack of funding. The DCF says that if no action is taken by Oct. 28, November SNAP benefits will not be disbursed until the federal government reaches a resolution.
In Lyon County, concerns are rising about the potential for households to lose access to vital benefits.
“SNAP is a safety net resource for a lot of our community members,” said Jessica Reth, community food and housing coordinator at United Way of the Flint Hills, “and the uncertainty of knowing whether people will receive their November benefits is scary, not only for those individuals but also for our community resources here in the area.”
Lyon County food pantries have experienced a recent surge in usage, attributed to economic hardship following layoffs from major companies like Tyson. If SNAP benefits are not disbursed at the beginning of November, there may be nowhere else to turn.
Another compounding issue comes from the imminent closure of one of Lyon County’s most robust food resources, Abundant Harvest. The community food bank and kitchen, which has provided multiple hot meals for over 15 years, announced its closure in August of this year.
The city of Emporia and United Way of the Flint Hills partnered to keep the kitchen in operation until the end of 2025, but following the new year, Lyon County’s single largest food resource will cease to exist.
“When I think of programs like SNAP being paused and the uncertainty that provides, and then some of our safety net resources like Abundant Harvest and the uncertain feature of that, I think it's definitely cause for concern in our community, and it's something that we need to pay attention to,” said Reth.
The potential loss of SNAP benefits could not come at a worse time. Local food banks are dealing not only with an increased usage from the hard economic constraints in the area, but the holidays tend to be the busiest time of the year, regardless of surrounding circumstances.
With increased utility and holiday-related costs and school closures eliminating school-provided meals, many families rely on local food resources during the colder months.
“There's going to be more individuals who are in need at this time, especially as we come up to the holiday season,” said Reth.
Dana Roemer, who handles item purchases for the First United Methodist Food Pantry in Emporia, says that, along with an increase in those seeking food assistance, local food banks have struggled to deal with rising food prices. While First United funds its food bank through contributions from its congregation, Roemer says that the church has begun to reach out for community assistance and grant opportunities.
Reth highlights the critical need for community support, urging those capable to donate, given the anticipated strain on Lyon County's food resources.
“Now is the time to donate to the various food pantries in our community, as well as some of those food drives that are happening right now,” she said. “Now is a great time to make a couple of extra portions of those big holiday soups and whatnot, and perhaps share the love with others that may need it.”
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By: Austin Hoagland | October 27th, 2025