Marion County Holds Urgent Meeting to Ensure Families Have Food During Federal Shutdown

SALEM, OR — With SNAP benefits set to expire November 1, 2025 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Marion County Board of Commissioners held an urgent meeting this evening to discuss how the County can support food insecure individuals in the community.

“The federal government is not functioning, and I am not okay with allowing that to trickle down into our community leaving so many individuals and families without resources for the vital nutrition they need to survive,” said Commissioner Danielle Bethell, Chair.

While Marion County’s WIC supplemental nutrition program for mothers, infants, and children remains open and funded through November, the commissioners discussed strategies to provide a stopgap from the shortage of federal funding to SNAP benefits.

The commissioners discussed allocating $100,000 a week over the next two weeks of economic development dollars to fund additional food baskets in partnership with local food shares. Purchasing in bulk and at food share rates, these dollars could supplement up to 4,500 food boxes per week if the government shutdown continues. The food would go to county residents who qualify for SNAP benefits.

Final decisions on how much funding and where to pull from would be finalized early next week once it is known whether SNAP benefits have officially expired or the federal government has reopened.

“This is a sad situation all around,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron. “I just want to say to our neighbors who may be affected by this, we’re here for you and working with our partners toward meeting our community’s needs in this difficult time.”

If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, find more information on current resources from the Marion Polk Food Share. Additional resources for mothers and children are available through the County’s WIC program.