Taylor Smith
On October 1st of this year, the government officially went into shutdown due to an inability to come to a consensus over federal spending, recissions of foreign aid, as well as subsidies of health insurance. As of now, the government shutdown is still ongoing, making it the longest-running government shutdown to date.
Because of this shutdown, many individuals are at risk of losing the benefits that they need to survive. These benefits affect people of all ages, races, abilities, and backgrounds. But it is believed that the loss of these benefits will have the most impact on the elderly, the disabled, as well as single parents and their children. Because of this loss of benefits many people are scrambling to find ways to survive the month of November and potentially onward as there is no way of telling when the government will reopen or when these benefits will be returned to the individuals who need them the most.
Here are some ways to help people make it through the government shutdown.
Rice and Dried Beans are your friends during times like these
There’s a reason why rice is the most popular type of grain in the world. It’s cheap, filling, and easy to access and store for long periods of time. Dried beans are also extremely cheap and easily accessible. Costing only pennies per serving both of these items are a must have for pantries during times of uncertainty.
Get Together with friends and family to create a food co-op
If you or somebody else you know has access to a bulk food club, you and a few others can all throw in an agreed upon amount of money to get some pantry staples in bulk that you can split between your households. By doing this you can ensure that you and others are able to get a variety of foods for less money than one would spend on a traditional trip to the grocery store.
Look for a food outlet
Food outlets are a great resource for those who want to get a lot of food for cheap. This is because food outlets sell foods that are still safe to consume but may have some issues such as cosmetic damage such as bends or creases in the packaging, or a knife may have cut through a part of the packaging leaving the rest unscathed. Or the item may be short or even misdated due to errors in the system. As long as these items are stored properly, they can be safe to consume for months after their best by date has passed. If you are interested in a local food outlet, there is one in St. Louis just past Soulard that sells a variety of foods to the public. This outlet is connected to a restaurant warehouse where many of the local restaurants will purchase stock for their restaurants.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Because of the push of false narratives such as “the welfare queen” many programs that are created to help those who need it are often ignored or seen as the “last resort” for many individuals who see asking for help as something that is shameful or even morally wrong. However, we have to remember that if nobody used these programs they wouldn’t exist to begin with. By utilizing these programs when you need them you help them gather more funding and supplies which helps them also be able to reach out and help more people. If you don’t want to utilize these programs without helping as well, many of them have volunteer programs.
Where to Find Help
If you need help, please ask. There is a food shelf available on campus. Additionally, there are several food pantries in the Riverbend, and elsewhere across Madison, Jersey, Bond, Calhoun, and Macoupin counties. These include:
- Glen-Ed Pantry serving District 7 residents
- Catholic Charities in Alton
- Operation Blessing in Wood River
- Community Hope Center in Cottage Hills
- Salvation Army Food Pantry in Jerseyville
- Staunton Helping Hands Center
If you aren’t sure if you qualify, contact these organizations for more information. You can also call 211 for assistance. Finally, check your county government and township website. Many list public resources for folks in need.
Here’s How You Can Help
If you’d like to help, there’s an abundance of opportunities right now. First, cash is king. If you have money to spare, consider a direct donation to a local pantry or food bank. They can stretch those dollars further than the average consumer. That said, donating food is also amazing. Anything you have is helpful, but consider giving items that you would eat yourself. Several amazing organizations have come together in light of this crisis and put together mutual aid efforts.These include:
- The Sunken Press Snap Into Action Food Drive with donation boxes at several businesses in the Milton School house, Bluff City Bazaar, Riviera Maya, and other locations.
- Scouting for food is this month and efforts are sure to be ramped up due to the current crisis
- Tony’s Steakhouse in Alton is collecting food donations for the Crisis Food Center
These are just a small selection. Chances are, you will encounter many opportunities throughout your day to give a little and help out a lot. Remember that mutual aid is all about turning small efforts into something big. When you drop off a bag of groceries at a collection site, send five dollars to a local mutual aid organization, or replenish a blessing box, you are making your community a better place.
