Massachusetts set to advance $4 million to food banks as federal SNAP payments cut off

Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald on Oct 30, 2025

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BOSTON — Massachusetts will send an additional $4 million in emergency food assistance to food banks as SNAP cuts off this weekend amid the ongoing government shutdown, Gov. Maura Healey announced.

But the governor will not release the money some advocates have called for directly from reserves to supplement the aid payments to residents.

“As a state we’re going to advance $4 million to our food banks, which support over 800 community organizations around the state,” Healey said at a media event on preparations for the SNAP cutoff. “This is from our existing MEFAP program, which is the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program that already provides $4 million to our community partners every month. Given the expected spike in demand, we are going to be doubling that.”

The state Senate Republican Caucus is urging “a time-limited appropriation to sustain SNAP benefits,” adding it is a “modest and defensible use of one-time funds.” The MassGOP senators add that the governor did move quickly to spend $2 billion “addressing the emergency shelter system.”

Monthly SNAP payments, which provide federal food assistance to about one in every six Massachusetts residents, will not be distributed on Nov. 1 as the government shutdown continues. The Trump administration announced it will not use contingency funds to keep the program running for the next month, the first time a federal administration has chosen to cease the funding during a government shutdown.

Massachusetts receives approximately $240 million monthly in SNAP benefits, which are distributed to around 1.1 million residents in the state.

Healey noted Thursday the USDA has a $23 billion contingency fund the federal administration could release to continue SNAP payments. The Massachusetts Attorney General joined 24 states in a Boston court seeking an order demanding the Trump administration release the funds.

In the case of the federal stoppage on Saturday, some advocates have called on state leaders to release money from an $8 billion stabilization fund or other state resources to continue payments to SNAP recipients through November.

Asked about the option, Healey said, “No state is tapping into its Rainy Day Fund, or Stabilization Fund as it’s called.”

“There’s a reason for that,” the governor said, citing the impending cutoff of other federal programs like food aid through WIC, heating assistance for seniors through LIHEAP, and more in the coming weeks if the shutdown continues.

Healey also stated the federal government has said that no state that funds SNAP in the meantime would be reimbursed.

As the Nov. 1 deadline approaches, states have taken various approaches, including Vermont’s pledge to cover the first 15 days of SNAP for all recipients in the state, New York’s release of $30 million in food aid for residents, and Rhode Island’s declaration of a state of emergency and funding of $6 million transferred from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families dollars.

“The number of SNAP beneficiaries in those states just far outweighs whatever states are able to do,” Healey said. “And that’s why we need the USDA to release those funds right now.”

As the stoppage approaches, Healey and advocates from food aid organizations called on residents to help out however they can. Of the state’s SNAP recipients, about 32% are children, 26% seniors, and 31% have disabilities, state officials said.

“Hunger is bad for all of us,” said Project Bread CEO Erin McAleer. “That’s why getting help matters for you, for your family and for everyone around you, and it’s also why all of us need to take action. This moment calls for grace, generosity and compassion. If you need support, please call us. It’s why we are here.”

Project Bread offers a food source Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 for anyone seeking help, and the Greater Boston Food Bank offers support through gbfb.org/needhelp.

Advocates also encouraged residents to help out by volunteering at local food banks or with donations through unitedwaymassbay.org/united-response. Since partnering with the state, the United Way Emergency Response Fund has already received more than $1 million in donations in the last week alone, Healey said, adding, “we’re a state that cares about one another.”

“For anyone who has the means to help, I encourage you to do so,” Healey said. “And to those of you who are headed into this weekend with tremendous anxiety, know that we will do everything that we can to help you and your families. Again, I encourage people to visit the mass.gov/snapfreeze website to see how you can help and to see what resources are available in your community.”