Federal ruling funding SNAP has food pantry leaders hopeful, but still preparing

Leaders of food pantries in southeast Michigan still expect to see an uptick in visitors, although are hopeful a recent federal ruling will help stymie need.

Two federal judges ruled Friday afternoon that the federal government must continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), despite an ongoing government shutdown. Roughly 1.4 million Michigan residents, or 13% of households in the state, had anticipated losing access to the program on Nov. 1 after The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service ordered Michigan to pause benefits.

Susan Gahagan, who directs the Immanuel Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Jackson, was speechless upon hearing the announcement, she said. She’s hopeful it goes through and isn’t appealed, further delaying aid.

“Sometime