By Jaxyn Cloud, Senior Reporter
The government shutdown has caused vital programs to come to a halt this November, and college students are struggling because of it.
A government shutdown happens when Congress doesn’t pass bills regarding funding to keep federal agencies operating. This means nonessential services temporarily close while the government tries to resolve the issue. During a government shutdown, many employees are put on temporary unpaid leave.
This causes heightened financial stress for many families across the United States.
One of the programs effected by the government shutdown is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, SNAP is a program designed to improve the quality of groceries for low-income Americans. It is designed to be an aid to groceries, not outright replace groceries.
The College SNAP Project website says that over 60,000 college students in Oklahoma meet the criteria to be eligible for SNAP benefits. This includes income, work and participation requirements. Without this program for college students, many are worried for the future and anticipating the end of this government shutdown.
The Alva Wesleyan Church operates a food bank twice a month. The first pick-up day after the SNAP benefits were cancelled was Nov 6. Amelia Bushman, the Food Bank Director, said they were prepared to give people twice the portion they usually do in order to balance the loss of SNAP benefits. They saw an increase in the amount of food taken as well as how many families were being served.
There is also an on-campus option for those seeking assistance. The Campus Cabinet is located in Shockley Hall room 109. This is a food bank for students to access on Wednesdays or by setting up an appointment with Angelina Case.
Local food pantries are seeing an increase of need and adjusting accordingly, but so are groups of students on campus. Ella Bowers, a psychology major, had an idea to help community members through this trying time.
Bowers is a peer leader at NWOSU, and she had the idea to hold a food drive for her Ranger Connection class. Every Ranger Connection class has to participate in a service project, and Bowers decided on gathering food items to donate to the Campus Cabinet,
“We know that there’s a need right now,” said Bowers. “With the government shutdown and food stamp shortage, we just wanted to help out however we could.”