By Staff Writer: Kayla Kocher
With the federal government shutdown halting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning Nov. 1, Portales residents are bracing for financial strain and food insecurity ahead of the holiday season.
Nearly 460,000 New Mexicans depend on SNAP, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office. The federal pause has left many families uncertain about how to put meals on the table, especially as the state’s $30 million emergency fund is expected to last only through Nov. 10.
In response, local restaurants are stepping in. AJ’s Wings, Do Drop In, Dr. K-Maron, and Red Door Brewing Co Clovis are among several businesses offering free meals for children until SNAP benefits are restored. “No child should ever go hungry,” Dr. K-Maron’s owners wrote in a Facebook post, adding that the offer extends to military families affected by the shutdown.
Food banks and churches, including Eastern New Mexico University’s food pantry and Calvary Church, are also increasing donations and distributions.
For many in Portales, the community’s response highlights a shared message of resilience: even as politics divide, neighbors are uniting to keep families fed.