KC residents seek alternatives as SNAP delays continue

  Federal courts ordered SNAP contingency funding on Oct. 31, but UMKC and local groups continue to assist residents impacted by the delays.

  Dominick Love, a UMKC liberal arts and public health senior, launched a food drive with the Nu Epsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. in response to suspended SNAP benefits.

  “Community members that genuinely need assistance or care are individuals that have been let down the most,” Love said. “So when you have somebody in your community – like your neighbor – somebody that lives a few blocks that is willing to step up and help, I feel like you’re more inclined to receive that help.”

  The fraternity began the drive on Oct. 27, placing donation bins in front of the Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) center and around Volker campus. 

While donations end on Nov. 21, Love hopes to organize similar initiatives in the future.

  Love said his mother pushed him to take action.

  “She’s lived through enough to know that when it started with the healthcare, it’s gonna start with food,” Love said. “[She] didn’t raise [me] to be on social media and not do nothing. She was like, ‘What are you going to do with this now?’”

  The SNAP ruling remains in limbo, as the USDA lacks sufficient funds to pay the full benefits. Food stamps cost between $8.5 to $9 billion every month, yet available funding includes only $5.25 billion in contingency funds.

  Despite rulings, benefits may take weeks to funnel through. Food stamps are frozen as of Nov. 1., and President Trump announced on Truth Social that no funds would be distributed until the government shutdown ends. 

  Communications Director Sarah Biles of Harvesters KC said that food insecurity is at its highest level in a decade, with roughly 375,000 people across the organization’s 27-county service area experiencing it. Biles added that their web traffic has doubled in Oct. compared to Sept.

  “For every meal that our agency partners provide, SNAP provides nine,” Biles said. “Community support is vital to us every day, but during a crisis like this… when we already have limited resources and the need is unprecedented, we have to have the community support in order to be able to remotely try and meet that increased need. There’s just no other way to do it.”

  Love said that he’s seen family members and friends hit by the SNAP delays alongside continuous layovers, but most have stayed “in good spirits” and remain committed to supporting their community.

  Love also volunteered with The Kansas City Defender throughout September to support The Free Hamer Food Program, alongside six UMKC students. The program provides fresh food support for low-income Black communities near 31st and Prospect.

  The Dr. Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center offers food assistance for students in need. Appointments are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from noon to 5:30 p.m., with walk-ins starting at 3 p.m.

  Harvesters also offers a nationwide locator for food resources, filtered by radius and program type.

  Here are some food resources near the UMKC campuses that are available:

NEAR VOLKER:

• Saint Francis Xavier: 1001 E 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110 (816-381-9174)
• Community Christian Church: 4601 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64112 (816-561-6531)
• Southside First Baptist Church: 2015 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64130 (816-965-5396)
• Bishop Sullivan Center: 3936 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110
• Heart of America Indian Center: 600 West 39th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111, (816-421-7608)
• Saint Paul’s Pantry (KCMO): 11 East 40th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 (816-931-2850)

NEAR HEALTH SCIENCES:

• Calvary Community Outreach Network: 2940 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64109 (816-531-4683)
• Metro Lutheran Ministry – Central: 3031 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64109 (816-931-0027)
• Glory Church: 3124 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64109 (479-252-0618)
• Redemptorist Center: 207 W Linwood Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64111(816-931-9942)
• Seton Center: 2816 East 23rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64127 (816-581-4758)
• Uplift Organization: 1516 Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64127 (816-241-0060)

  Jennifer L’Heureux, Chief of Children’s Community Operations for the Northwest region, created a Jackson County resource directory organized by need. Heureux plans to add more resources as demand increases.

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