Local food bank resource guide amid SNAP pause

When a funding lapse in Washington threatens to interrupt benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — families across southwest Michigan are already feeling the ripple effects, and food pantries throughout St. Joseph, Cass, and Kalamazoo counties are bracing for heavier demand.

The ongoing 2025 United States federal government shutdown began October 1 and has caused the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to warn states that “there may be insufficient funds to pay for November SNAP benefits” unless the impasse ends. In Michigan alone, approximately 1.4 million people — about 13 percent of households — rely on SNAP. 

What SNAP is & how it’s used

SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. It issues benefits via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that recipients use at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other approved retailers. In Michigan, the average SNAP household in fiscal year 2024 received about $335 a month — roughly $173 per person.

Beyond helping families put food on the table, SNAP spending supports local grocery stores and farmers markets — meaning a pause affects not just hungry households but local economies too. 

Local impact in Three Rivers

In St. Joseph County, the Three Rivers Community Food Site on Railroad Drive is already adapting. Volunteer David Berry described their preparations.

“Well, we probably … we’re going to have to cut down on the amount of food that we give out to each person so we can stretch our supplies. People can come in once a month, we give out enough food for people to have for 10 to 12 days.”

“We’ve had about a third already of new people coming in, and we expect an increase,” Berry said. “We’ve asked some of our people to do some extra donating.”

Berry said the site typically serves between 900 and 1,000 people a month, and that client numbers were already up 12.4 percent from last year as of August. With SNAP benefits facing an uncertain delay, Berry says staff are bracing for “extra burden.”

Berry added that the food site works with partner organizations to pick up donated fresh produce twice a week, lets clients select items they want, and has volunteers who bring carts out to clients’ cars when clients need help.

State response

In Lansing, Gretchen Whitmer announced a $4.5 million emergency fund to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to bolster food distribution across all 83 Michigan counties ahead of the anticipated SNAP gap. The aim is to assist families affected by the delay, and support home-delivery of food for people who cannot drive. The state is also working with philanthropic partners to align additional support for impacted families, according to a press release from Governor Whitmer on Thursday, October 30.

Resources

Watershed Voice has compiled a list of resources in St. Joseph, Cass, and Kalamazoo counties. If you have additional resources or updates, send them to maxwell@watershedvoice.com to be shared with the community.

St. Joseph

Upcoming Community Events
Centreville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 23683 M-86, Centreville — Tue., Nov. 11, 4 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, 1320 S. Lakeview, Sturgis — Thu., Nov. 13, 4 p.m.
The Huss Project, 1008 8th St., Three Rivers — Sat., Nov. 15, 9 a.m.
Constantine High School, 1 Falcon Dr. (Bus Circle), Constantine — Tue., Nov. 18, 3:45 p.m.
Railroad Park, 119 W. Clinton Rd., Burr Oak — Wed., Nov. 19, 3–4 p.m.
Gateway Village Apts., 409 Gateway Ct., Sturgis — Thu., Nov. 20, 10:30 a.m.
Colon High School, 400 Dallas St., Colon — Thu., Nov. 20, 4:30 p.m.
White Pigeon High School, 410 Prairie Ave., White Pigeon — Tue., Nov. 25, 3:30 p.m.

County Food Pantries
United Community Assistance Program, 320 N. Main St., Three Rivers — Mon. & Wed., 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Three Rivers Food Site, Inc., 18 Railroad Dr., Three Rivers — Tue. & Thu., 9 a.m.–noon
Mendon Food Cupboard, 114 W. Main St., Mendon — Thu., 10 a.m.–noon
Constantine Community Food Pantry, 185 W. 5th St., Constantine — Thu., 9–11 a.m.
Colon Food Pantry, 132 N. Blackstone Ave., Colon — Tue., 8–11:15 a.m.
Centreville Food Pantry, 305 E. Main St., Centreville — Fri., 10 a.m.–noon
Glen Oaks Community College Pantry, 62249 Shimmel Rd., Centreville — Tue., 3–4 p.m.; Fri., noon–1 p.m.
Holy Angels Helping Hands, 402 S. Lakeview St., Sturgis — 2nd & 4th Tue., 11 a.m.–noon
ECN/White Pigeon Pantry, 105 N. Kalamazoo St., White Pigeon — Wed., 9–11 a.m.; 3rd Mon., 5:30–7 p.m.
Outside Sunday Pantry, 215 E. Broadway St., Three Rivers — 3rd Sat., 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Three Rivers specific resources

Cass

A full Cass County resource guide including food, emergency services, and other aid can be found here.

Kalamazoo

Additional resources

Here is a list of additional resources to help locate resources specific to location and need:

https://www.findhelp.org

https://www.feedwm.org/findfood/

https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/food/food-distribution/household-food-distribution/the-emergency-food-assistance-program/where-can-i-get-tefap

https://www.smcaa.com/pantry (has some information for Van Buren and Berrien counties)

https://www.uwsm.org/2-1-1

Local service providers emphasize that this is a time of real need for many southwest Michigan households. Forming or joining mutual aid efforts — from neighborhood food drives to volunteer delivery networks — can help communities bridge the gap until federal assistance resumes.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.