Dear Neighbor,
As you may have heard, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) recently alerted the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that due to the ongoing government shutdown and subsequent funding lapse, there is a limited availability of funds to pay full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the nation. As a result, the USDA has directed the state to pause November SNAP issuance and ongoing benefits until further notice.
MDHHS has been communicating directly with Michiganders enrolled in SNAP. If you currently receive SNAP benefits or have a pending application for benefits, you will receive updates directly from MDHHS about the status of your benefits, including potential delays and when payments restart. Any already-issued benefits will remain available for use, and funds currently available on your Bridge Card can continue to be used without interruption.
Please know that my Senate colleagues and I are doing everything we can to help Michiganders weather this storm, including passing bipartisan legislation this past week to immediately provide $71 million to continue SNAP benefits beyond Nov. 1 and support food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, and other organizations. This legislation is now in the House for consideration.
If you are in need of food assistance, please find information below about programs and resources that organizations in the community offer. Or, if you are looking for ways to support our neighbors in the weeks ahead, you can find some places below that you can lend a helping hand.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can reach me and my team by emailing SenSSingh@senate.michigan.gov or calling (517) 373-3447.
Sincerely,
Sam Singh
State Senator
District 28
Local Emergency Food Resources
If you or someone you know needs a little extra help putting food on the table, there are places throughout our community that can help! Please find below and on our website a list of food banks that are open in or near Senate District 28. We recommend calling ahead of time to check on their hours of operation or any eligibility criteria they may have.
Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties
(517) 372-4700
Food Access Programs
Corunna United Methodist Church
200 W. McArthur St., Corunna, MI 48817
(989) 743-5050
Greater Lansing Food Bank
(517) 853-7800
glfb@glfoodbank.org
Pantry Locater
MSU Food Bank & Basic Needs Program – Spartan Shelf – Olin Health Center
463 E. Circle Dr., Room 151, East Lansing, MI 48824
Appointment Only
Only available for students, faculty, & MSU community
Elsie Area Food Pantry
219 S. Ovid St., Elsie, MI 48831
(989) 388-8717
elsieareafoodpantry@gmail.com
Find hours of operation on their website.
Redeemer Church
13980 Schavey Rd., DeWitt, MI 48820
(517) 669-3430
Clinton County residents only
Open Tuesdays
Saint Johns Basic Needs Center
213 N. Clinton Ave., St. Johns, MI 48879
(517) 230-4618
Michigan 211
From food and utility assistance to mental health support and emergency shelter — Michigan 211 can also connect you and your loved ones to critical resources. To get in touch with a trained specialist for free, confidential support, you can dial 2-1-1, visit mi211.org or text your zip code to 898-211.
Double Up Food Bucks Expands & Offers “Bonus Bucks”
In response to the temporary pause of SNAP benefits, the Fair Food Network (FFN) has announced its expansion of the Double Up Food Bucks Program to help Michiganders navigate this tough time.
Beginning earlier this week and effective through Dec. 31, 2025, Michigan’s Double Up program has increased its flexibility with the following updates.
- Double Up earnings no longer expire. FFN lifted the 90-day limit so shoppers can use their earned benefits whenever they need them.
- No daily earning cap. FFN removed the usual $20 per day limit, enabling families to earn as much as they can while shopping for fresh produce.
- Frozen fruits and vegetables are now eligible. Shoppers can now use Double Up on frozen options with no added salt, sugar, or oil — available at all 237 locations across the state.
And, as a new, exciting benefit, Double Up “Bonus Bucks” are available beginning today — a limited-time voucher of $40 that will not require a matching SNAP purchase to receive. It can be used exclusively on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and will be distributed directly onto Double Up cards and app, or loyalty cards at participating sites, where applicable. Printed vouchers for shoppers using tokens or coupons at participating locations will also be available.
If you are a SNAP beneficiary in Michigan, please know:
- You can still use any SNAP dollars already on your EBT card — those funds are not affected.
- All previously earned Double Up Food Bucks remain available.
- Double Up is available year-round at grocery stores, even as farmers’ market season winds down.
Learn more at DoubleUpFoodBucks.org/How-To-Snap-Disruption. If you need help or have questions, you can call the Double Up hotline at 866-586-2796, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. To find a participating location near you, visit DoubleUpFoodBucks.org/locations.
Hunters Feeding Michigan
The Hunters Feeding Michigan program, formerly known as Sportsmen Against Hunger, coordinates hunters, game processors, and food pantries to provide donations of nutritious venison to families in need. It’s a creative and valuable program that has been helping Michiganders put food on their table for over 30 years, and one that my Senate Democrats and I proudly supported expanding in last year’s state budget. Hunters who wish to donate their deer can bring it to a participating wild game processor. Individuals can also support the program through a monetary donation. To learn more or to donate, visit their website at this link.
How to Help
In Michigan, over 1.5 million people face hunger, including 1 in 5 children. These numbers are already alarming and underscore the gravity of the situation in front of us this month, as folks can no longer access the SNAP assistance they depend on to make ends meet. If you’ve been considering ways to plug in to your community and help those in need — now is the time.
Whether through a financial contribution, donation of food, or your time, both the Greater Lansing Food Bank and the Food Bank Council of Michigan are phenomenal organizations to support.
From hosting a fundraising event or food drive to getting hands-on with volunteer service, learn more about ways you can support the Greater Lansing Food Bank on their website.
Learn more about the Food Bank Council of Michigan and donate on their website.