Produce, which is covered by the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is displayed for sale at a grocery store in Baltimore, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

ALPENA — Nearly 1.4 million people in Michigan, including people in Northeast Michigan, are facing the reality that they could lose their monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the federal government doesn’t end its shutdown soon.

For those who need food assistance, there is help available for people in the Alpena area. There are local food pantries and other resources to make sure food is available to low-income families. There are also food drives planned locally, which will help to keep the local food pantries stocked.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed Michigan officials that the benefits will not be released as usual on Nov. 1, and families will have to wait until a resolution is reached, and the federal government reopens, before their food assistance continues.

In Alpena, the Alpena County Democrat Party will hold food drives each Saturday at the Duck Park. The group will forward non-perishable food volunteers collect to local charities who can distribute those items.

Activism Chair Diane O’Connor said a volunteer will be at the park in Alpena on Saturday from 11 a.m. until about 1 p.m. collecting food donations. She added there will be signs directing people to the vehicle where the items will be loaded.

O’Connor stated that even if the shutdown ends in the coming days, the local Democrat party will continue its food drives through the end of November. If the shutdown lingers into December, she said the party’s volunteers will continue to offer their support.

O’Connor explained that the best types of food to donate are canned or dry foods, such as cereal, rice, canned tuna or meats, pasta, soups, or anything that has a long shelf life.

“We are going to try to help as many food pantries as we can reach,” O’Conor said.

The Salvation Army has also released a list of places people can go get food or have a hot meal.

Besides The Salvation Army itself and St. Vincent DePaul, for where people need to set up an appointment in order to receive their food assistance, there are also local churches that offer meals or food.

A list of food pantries and locations that offer meals is listed below this story.

SNAP, which is also known by some as food stamps, is a federal program that helps low-income people and families purchase food.

In Michigan, about 13% of households utilize the government program. If the benefits are withheld for any length of time, it could apply pressure to local foodbanks, pantries, and other places that provide food assistance.

In a Facebook post from The Salvation Army in Alpena, the organization stated that it anticipates an increase in people needing help obtaining food. The Salvation Army is asking the public to donate what they can to help.

“We know in the coming weeks we will have an increase in families arriving at our food pantry,” the post says. “We want to be prepared to give them the best service and food options. We also have refrigerators to accept produce, dairy items, and eggs. We have an outside bin for after hours donations. Please make sure nothing is expired and paper and plastic grocery bags are accepted.”

On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that a federal judge in Boston has challenged the Trump administration’s argument that SNAP benefits could be suspended for the first time in the food-aid program’s history because of the government shutdown.

During a hearing over a request by 25 Democratic-led states to keep the funding flowing, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani told lawyers that if the government can’t afford to cover the program, there’s a process to follow rather than simply suspending all benefits.

“The steps involve finding an equitable way of reducing benefits,” said Talwani, who was nominated to the court by former President Barack Obama.

On Thursday afternoon, Talwani said she seemed to be leaning toward requiring the government to put billions of dollars in emergency funds toward SNAP.

Such a ruling by Talwani could spark an appeal.

FOOD ASSISTANCE IN ALPENA COUNTY

The Salvation Army – 989-358-2769 – Call for an appointment.

St. Vincent DePaul – 989-464-6375 – Must call for an appointment.

The Friendship Room – 989-354-8018 – Indoor dining only. No take out meals.

Trinity Episcopal Church – 989-356-0576 – Outdoor blessing box. Please take only what you need.

Grace Lutheran Church – 989-354-2640 – Outdoor blessing box. Please take only what you need.

Sunrise Community – 989-727-3443 – Must call for an appointment.

Life 180 Church – 989-340-0552 – Indoor dining only. No take out meals.

Meals on Wheels (Senior Adults Only) – 989-356-3585 – Call for more information.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.