When the Safety Net Lets Go

My SNAP was supposed to arrive today. I just spent my last $40 to get my kids what they need. I don't know how I will feed them without it."
That was Becky, a guest at our Community Meal in early November.
When SNAP funds became threatened and then delayed earlier this month, demand on our grocery programs spiked. Visits began to rise two weeks before SNAP funds were due to be delayed,  and peaked the first full week of November as guests' bank accounts ran dry.
However, our guests knew where to turn and we had the resources to respond to an unprecedented surge.

• Our Neighbors' Table's Salisbury Market, opened in 2024, has improved access to southern communities.
• The Seacoast Regional Food Hub provides additional storage to keep our region supplied with plenty of food.
• Our SNAP Advocate is working overtime to process applications for those who need help.
• And our integrated markets at Councils on Aging across the region are meeting the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Though SNAP funding is now flowing, many neighbors have seen their benefits cut or eliminated. Because heating assistance remains frozen, many are choosing between bills and groceries. More people living homeless and in dire situations are coming to us for help.The first step to building a community of support is awareness. Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, and learn more about our Stable Table strategy here.