Big Blue Bargains donated $5,000 to Anchor Food Pantry as many in Swampscott and across the nation remain without Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture froze payments to the nation’s largest food aid program on November 1. However, two federal judges ruled that day that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue to fund SNAP using contingency funds during the ongoing government shutdown. On Thursday, November 6, a federal judge ordered Trump to release full benefits for the month, finding that “irreparable harm would occur if millions of people were forced to go without funds for food.”
The Trump administration, which has blamed the lapse in SNAP funding on “congressional failure,” said Friday it would comply with the court’s order and work to release benefits. Later that evening, however, the administration reversed its decision and asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause the order requiring the release of full November food assistance benefits. Late Friday night, Supreme Court Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson temporarily blocked the lower-court judge’s orders to allow an appeals court time to issue its ruling.
“The donation was made in the wake of the recent cuts to SNAP benefits, which were felt acutely by many members of our community who are facing food insecurity. The donation was possible thanks to the many donors and volunteers who help support Big Blue Bargains’ mission to improve our community of Swampscott,” said Laura Lynn, the vice president on the board of directors for the Big Blue Bargains.
In response to the cuts, Anchor Food Pantry is hosting a collection drive at the Reach Arts Building, at 89 Burrill Street, on November 8 and 15. The group held a drive on November 1 as well.
The drop-offs will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The group put together a list of suggested items to donate, including:
- Canned: corn, peas, string beans, mixed veggies, beets
- Canned fruits
- Apple sauce
- Canned soup
- Broths: chicken, beef, vegetable
- Canned: tuna, chicken
- Shelf stable milk (1% or almond)
- Cereal
- Granola and cereal bars
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Macaroni cheese
- Beans (canned or dry)
- Rice
- Coffee, tea (regular and decaf)
- Juice
- Peanut butter
All donations should be new, unopened and not expired.
SNAP serves nearly 42 million Americans, or about one in eight people nationwide. Originally known as food stamps, the program has existed since 1964 and serves as a crucial safety net for low-income families whose jobs don’t cover basic needs. Most participants have incomes below the poverty line, at roughly $32,000 for a family of four.
Most participants are families with children, and more than one in three include older adults or someone with a disability. Nearly two in five recipients are households with someone employed.
According to Project Bread, more than one in three households in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity in 2024, which equates to around 2 million adults affected by food insecurity at some point within the year. Black and Hispanic households have faced the highest rates of food insecurity in the state, at 46% and 62% respectively. Since 2019, rates among Asian and White households have doubled.
Statewide food insecurity has climbed steadily, from 19% in 2019 to 37% in 2024. Project Bread notes that living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level strongly predicts food insecurity.
In Swampscott, the poverty rate rose to 7% in 2023, a 4.7% increase in just one year, according to Data USA. Anchor Food Pantry Board Member Cathy Kalpin previously told the Swampscott Tides that there are over 1,000 families in the Swampscott area that will be impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits.
“Those include senior citizens, veterans, young families,” Kalpin told the Swampscott Tides. “We serve over 100 families per month at the pantry, and I think that is about to increase…Even before the SNAP benefits expired, the economy has had an impact on some families.”
