When KC Neufeld announced on her Denver-area Facebook page that her family would be handing out ramen noodles and packs of macaroni and cheese in addition to candy this Halloween, she wasn’t expecting much of a response.
The mother of four-year-old twins wanted to make a difference in her working-class neighborhood. food aid funds The government shutdown is expected to end the pandemic for tens of millions of vulnerable Americans on Friday.
Within two days, nearly 3,000 people responded to Neufeld’s post, some thanking her and others saying they would follow suit.
“This post has gotten a lot more of a response than I expected and I’m totally unprepared for it,” said Neufeld, 33, who explained that even though her family has reached their grocery budget for the week, they still go back to the store to pick up more food.
“I wish I could buy up this entire aisle at Costco,” she added. “I can’t do it. But I’ll do what I can.”
Neufeld is one of many people across the country preparing to provide non-perishable food to trick-or-treaters this year to fill the void left by impending budget cuts. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programor SNAP, helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.
A flurry of widely shared posts have emerged in recent days as many people look for ways to offset the surge in need. Some posts suggest food to hand out, while others highlight recently acquired items such as cheese sticks, mini cereal, canned soup, and even diapers for trick-or-treaters.
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Posts are often followed by a series of comments from people announcing similar plans, as well as a bunch of reminders not to forget the candy.
Emily Archambault, 29, and her sister-in-law Taylor Martin, 29, of LaPorte, Indiana, plan to sell pasta and sauces, peanut butter and jelly, cereal and other foods, as well as diapers and wipes on Halloween. They also collect donations from church members.
Their plan is to set everything out on a table away from where the candy will be handed out so families can grab what they need without worrying about judgement.
“It takes some of the pressure off the parents,” Martin said. “Even if you’re out trick-or-treating, it’s there and your kids probably won’t even know you’re taking it.”
Archambault said she turned to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, after her son’s complications forced her to temporarily stop working. If they lose that support, they will likely have to rely on food pantries. And while she says there are great things in her area, she expects them to be in abundance.
“We have to come together,” she said. “I am grateful for the blessings I have received, but I am even more grateful to be able to give back now.”
Erika Dutka of Archibald, Pennsylvania, relies on SNAP to support herself and her three children, and on Sunday she went “trunk-or-treating” with people handing out candy from the trunk of their cars. She said she was relieved to get a pack of ramen noodles, oatmeal, juice, pretzels and fruit snacks in addition to sweet treats.
The 36-year-old, who works two jobs and goes to school full-time, said the food will allow her children to have plenty of snacks for school the rest of the week and save her last $100 in SNAP funds.
“It gives me more time,” she said. “Maybe things will change. Maybe things will go back to normal.”
Neufeld, a Denver mom who stocks up on long-lasting food for trick-or-treating, said she relies on the university’s food bank to get through school. She said most people would never have known that she was truly suffering. And now, with SNAP depleted, she wants people to remember not to assume anything about others.
“You never really know what other people are going through,” she said. “So even if they don’t look like they need help, it’s still important to reach out when you can, because it can make a big difference.”
