Shutdown to strand Centre County’s 9K SNAP recipients, strain area food banks
Editor’s note, 2:55 p.m. Oct. 31: In a bench ruling out of Rhode Island Friday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to pay federal nutrition benefits to millions of Americans amid the government shutdown using emergency funds. It wasn’t immediately clear if and when SNAP benefits will proceed.
Nearly 9,000 lower-income Centre County residents will lose access to federal food assistance dollars Saturday, Nov. 1 unless Congress ends the federal shutdown.
The pause of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is likely to squeeze local food pantries already operating without stable funding due to the monthslong lack of a state budget.
“We’re being mindful of our resource limits,” said Michelle Stiner, the executive director of Central Pennsylvania Community Action, the group that administers food pantries in Centre and Clearfield counties. “With the Pennsylvania state budget impasse, we’ve not received state funds for food since July, so we’ve been operating under increased strain here.”
The lack of money from the state has meant food pantries did not have reliable means for food purchases, sometimes resulting in a lack of variety and lower stock at rural food pantries, according to Robin Knepp, the group’s Centre County supervisor. Food pantries, especially those in areas with more people and grocery stores, have been able to keep up with demand because of donation drives from churches and local businesses, as well as commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The loss of SNAP benefits could change the calculus, however.
Stiner said she couldn’t predict how exactly the SNAP freeze would affect Centre County food pantries, but noted her group recently received a three-month, interest-free line of credit from its main supplier, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. The $30,000 infusion will allow the group to buy food with more than just donation money, which it has been doing since July.
“I’m not in panic mode,” Stiner said. “If I talk to you in 30 days, I might be a completely different person.”
Zach Zook, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s chief strategy officer, said the disbursements were decided prior to the SNAP freeze announcement.
“If SNAP benefits are missed in November, we expect a large increase in visits to the charitable food system,” he said. “We are trying to explore other ways that we can support our partners during this time,” including by extending funds beyond three months.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, in a partisan, taxpayer-funded message on its website, said it would “notify SNAP recipients when payments can resume, and we will let you know when to expect SNAP payments.”
“Please be patient and respectful to our staff while we try to assist you through these changes caused by the federal government shutdown,” the message continues. It noted those struggling to put food on the table could call 211, a hotline run by United Way.
The agency noted in a press release that SNAP recipients could stretch unspent funds throughout the freeze, as they expire at the end of the calendar year, not at the end of the month. The agency also said it would continue processing SNAP applications during the shutdown.
President Donald Trump’s July tax law is set to take a $125 million dent out of Pennsylvania SNAP benefits by passing costs onto the commonwealth. The law also imposes new work requirements for SNAP beginning Saturday, Nov. 1 the same day the benefits freeze begins.
“That’s another element — I think that will increase our demand,” Stiner said.
Pennsylvania has nearly 2 million SNAP recipients, accounting for 15% of its population, according to the state department of human services. It is the only state in the nation without even a temporary budget for the fiscal year that started July 1.
Centre County food banks
Potter Township Food Pantry
Address: 127 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall
Food distribution times: Third Tuesday of each month from 12:30 to 3 p.m. or by appointment
Areas served: Centre Hall Borough, Gregg Township, Haines Township, Millheim Borough, Penn Township and Potter Township
Food Bank of the State College
Address: 169 Gerald St., State College
Food distribution times: Mondays from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Areas served: College Township, Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township, Harris Township, Huston Township, Patton Township, Port Matilda Borough, State College Borough, Taylor Township and Worth Township
Howard Area Food Pantry
Address: 44 Vesper St., Beech Creek
Food distribution times: First Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.
Areas served: Curtin Township, Howard Borough, Howard Township, Liberty Township and Marion Township
Snow Shoe United Methodist Church food pantry
Address: 502 Moshannon Ave., Snow Shoe
Food distribution times: Second Thursday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m.
Areas served: Burnside Township, Snow Shoe Borough and Snow Shoe Township
Philipsburg Community Action Food Pantry
Address: 14 S. Front St., Philipsburg
Food distribution times: Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment
Areas served: Philipsburg Borough, Rush Township
Faith Centre Food Pantry
Address: 135 S. Allegheny St., Bellefonte
Food distribution times: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m., with emergency hours Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Areas served: Bellefonte Borough, Benner Township, Boggs Township, Milesburg Borough, Spring Township, Union Township, Unionville Borough and Walker Township
Centre Helps
Address: 410 South Fraser St., State College
Food distribution times: 24/7 for emergencies only
Areas served: All of Centre County
Centre House
Address: 217 East Nittany Ave., State College
Food distribution times: 24/7 for emergencies only
Areas served: All of Centre County
Correction: This story was updated at 9:21 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2025 as a previous version included an incorrect address for the Potter Township Food Pantry. The correct address is 127 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM.
