Bags and boxes of donated food sit at the Princeton Municipal Center as the city collects items for local food pantries to assist residents affected by the pause in SNAP benefits

As the federal government shutdown drags on — and with it, uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits — food pantries across Collin County say they are already seeing a surge of new clients at a time when demand typically spikes ahead of Thanksgiving.

While the county ranks 50th in the state, there are still roughly 11,600 food stamp recipients, according to the Statistical Atlas website.

Last week, the USDA said it planned to tap into a contingency fund to issue up to 50% of the usual monthly benefits, but as of press time, payments were still delayed.

In Farmersville, the need is equally urgent. The city ranks No. 1 in Collin County for food stamp recipients as a percentage of all households, followed by Blue Ridge and then Princeton.

The city of Princeton and Princeton ISD are conducting food drives and Samaritan Inn of McKinney has taken ownership of Community Lifeline Center’s food pantry, 1601 N. Waddill St. in McKinney.

Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but closed from 1-1:30 p.m. for restocking, then open 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday.

New clients are welcome to apply during business hours with a photo ID and proof of current address such as a lease agreement or utility bill. Copies of the documents are OK.

The service area includes Anna, Altoga, Blue Ridge, Celina, Copeville, Farmersville, Josephine, Lavon, Lowry Crossing, McKinney, Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Prosper, Van Alstyne, Westminster and Weston.

Farmersville Outreach Alliance, a ministry that provides assistance to Farmersville families twice a month, posted a social media plea showing the grim reality of bare shelves after serving 60 families last week.

In response, leaders are asking for financial assistance or immediate food donations to restock core items at FarmersvilleOutreach.com.

Serving families every Sunday in Farmersville, City on a Hill Ministries (COHM) is a partnership of multiple churches “to help the poor and the suffering,” according to its website. They are currently serving 40 to 45 families every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

“We are seeing new clients who have lost their jobs,” said Tracy Barber of First Baptist Farmersville. “We are also seeing clients returning who have not needed assistance for the last few years —losing SNAP benefits has led them to seek assistance.”

COHM provides food, clothing, baby supplies, toys, household items and more, including help with individual emergencies such as disasters, foster care placements and job loss.

In southeastern Collin County, the need is also rising at Hope for the Cities, a Wylie-based nonprofit that provides assistance to the hungry and the homeless.

“We have added over 20 families we are delivering to in the past week,” said director Jon Bailey. “The needs are both for food and financial assistance, adding, “it has definitely been building already with inflation, but it’s part of the perfect storm with the shutdown.”

November is typically known among many pantries as a “food month,” Bailey said, because many families seek assistance before the holidays. The shutdown has made those seasonal challenges more severe.

Across North Texas, larger organizations are preparing for the same strain. The North Texas Food Bank offered support on social media for those affected by the government shutdown. “Whether you’re a federal employee, a contractor, or work for a business affected, you don’t have to face this uncertainty alone.”

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