MORGAN COUNTY — By the time this story hits news stands, the current government shutdown could be the longest in history. As of presstime, the shutdown has tied the 35-day record set in 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The current shutdown began on Oct. 1, and is the result of congressional failure to approve appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. Republicans and Democrats in Congress were unable to agree on issues like federal spending levels and health insurance subsidies.
The effects of a shutdown may have gone mostly unnoticed at first, but as the shutdown has stretched into a second month, the lack of operations in D.C. have begun to ripple across the country, including Morgan County.
Perhaps most noticeable to Morgan County residents are reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), frequently referred to as food stamps.
SNAP benefits were set to expire Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown, but last Friday, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the Trump administration had to keep funding the program that 42 million Americans use.
Nevertheless, the Trump administration said it would take steps to provide only partial payments, and eligible households may only see half as much in benefits compared with their usual amounts, according to The New York Times.
Local service providers have sprung into action in the face of this food crisis.
Churches in Mission Executive Director Susan Haynes said the organization had its biggest regular month of giving out food orders ever in October, excluding holiday meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
In Monrovia, Farm House Brew and Backyard Farm Collective have teamed up to launch a mutual aid trailer that will sit outside Farm House Brew to collect food and coats for those in need.
Dave Nash, executive director of the YMCA of Morgan County, said the organization provides a healthy dinner for 195 students enrolled in after-school programs at each of the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville elementary schools. The YMCA does this as part of the CACFP program through the Indiana Department of Education.
Nash said the Y also partners with Morgantown First Christian Church to provide Community Table every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. There, the Y provides three days worth of healthy kids meals for up to 20 children, and the church provides healthy meals for individuals or families that evening in a drive-through pick-up format.
“Typically, 270 to 325 meals are provided weekly,” Nash said.
The Boys & Girls Club of Morgan County has also made moves to combat hunger in response to SNAP benefit reductions. Last week, Boys & Girls Club executive director Shannon Kohl announced the launch of the Thankful Hearts Food Drive, their first annual community food drive in Morgan County.
“With the recent government shutdown impacting food assistance, many of our Club families and neighbors are facing hard choices,” the Club said in a press release. “Our goal is simple — to make sure no table is empty and every family has a reason to be thankful.”
The Club is requesting members of the community to donate non-perishable food items at the Boys & Girls Club of Morgan County or any community drop-off site.
Additionally, residents can sponsor a holiday meal for a family. Donations of $35 can provide a meal for a small family, $50 for a family of four and $75 for a large family. The Club is also asking for small monetary donations to help purchase groceries and gift cards for local families.
The Club started collecting donations on Monday and will continue to do so until Dec. 15. Thanksgiving meals will be distributed Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, and Christmas meals will be distributed Dec. 16-20.
“We know that we have families that are going to be stretching it,” Kohl told The Correspondent in a phone interview. “Even if they get their benefits back, a lot of families still struggle to put food on the table during the holidays. We’ll help anyone that we can, and if (Thankful Hearts) goes well, we’ll do it every year.”
Kohl said she thinks at least 25 Club families will be significantly impacted by SNAP reductions, though she said that number could be even higher.
Beyond the Thankful Hearts food drive, the Club has what it calls a Blessing Box outside of the Club that accepts donations year-round. Both the Club and community members fill the small cabinet with food constantly, and the Club just received a grant that it will use to purchase a larger Blessing Box that will be placed outside the building.
