SNAP pause brings out local efforts from Aspen to Parachute

With over 40 food drives from Aspen to Parachute, local mountain communities have stepped up to support those affected most by the federal government’s food aid pause.

The Aspen School District, Aspen Board of Realtors, Colorado Mountain College, Aspen’s The Ritz-Carlton Club, Aspen Red Brick Center for the Arts, Sopris Elementary School, the Bluebird Cafe in Glenwood Springs, and more have stepped forward to benefit food assistance nonprofit LIFT-UP, which has six food pantries between Parachute and New Castle. 

The community aid comes as the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — known as food stamps — was paused during the United States government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, affecting 335 SNAP recipients in Pitkin County and approximately 4,300 from Aspen to Parachute. After a series of court orders fighting and reinstating the food aid pause, food stamps might once again be reinstated after the United States Senate came to an agreement Sunday on a plan to reopen the government. 

Though Pitkin County Human Services Deputy Director Samuel Landercasper was hesitant to make a prediction on the reinstatement of SNAP funds, Landercasper said he hoped the federal program would be once again running by Thanksgiving. But, in the meantime, those in need can still get food assistance. 

“The important thing is if folks need help, it’s available,” he said.

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Apart from the food drives, since the SNAP pause began on Nov. 1, Pitkin County has issued $5,400 in grocery store gift cards to residents who would otherwise receive SNAP benefits. 

Harvest for Hunger, an up-valley food pantry with locations in Aspen, Snowmass, and Basalt, has seen a 30% uptick in visits since the last week of October, though Harvest of Hunger Executive Director Gray Warr said he couldn’t be certain if the uptick was due to increased demand from the SNAP pause. Warr said the Aspen pantry, located at 0405 Castle Creek Road, saw an increase of 142 visits last week, bringing the total to 605 visits, and the Snowmass pantry at 130 Kearns Road last week saw an increase of 38 visits, from 268 to 306.

During the pause, the nonprofit increased its order from Food Bank of the Rockies from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds to help stock its Aspen pantry, and 500 to 1,000 pounds to stock its Snowmass pantry.

LIFT-UP saw a 15% increase in visits in the first week of November compared to the first week of October — a 26% increase compared to the first week of September, according to Interim Executive Director Elyse Hottel. The nonprofit served 1,001 unique individuals in the first week of November. 

Valley Meals and More, a nonprofit delivering meals to individuals from Glenwood Springs up to El Jebel and to those in the Crystal River Valley, saw a 9.6% increase in calls for service in anticipation of the Nov. 1 food aid pause, according to Founder and Executive Director Mary Kenyon.

But despite the expected return of SNAP benefits, local food aid experts think the increased demand might not slow. 

“I actually think it’s the press coverage of the resources for food that brought some of them to us,” Kenyon said. 

Warr said the same, noting the press coverage showed many in the community that Harvest for Hunger existed. 

“I think it’s going to remain steady,” he said of the increased demand.

To learn how to help local food assistance organizations, visit West Mountain Regional Health Alliance’s call to action at westmountainhealthalliance.org.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.