Washington County allocates $250K to food shelves
The Washington County Board approved $250,000 in one-time emergency funding on Oct. 30, 2025, for 10 food shelves serving county communities as USDA’s shutdown-driven suspension of November SNAP benefits looms. Grants include $75,000 for Open Cupboard and tiered awards for nine other organizations, with officials citing roughly 10,400 county residents on SNAP and rising demand.
Local Government
Health
📌 Key Facts
- Total allocation: $250,000 to 10 food shelves; largest grant $75,000 to Open Cupboard
- Itemized recipients include $37,500 each to Basic Needs, Valley Outreach, Family Pathways; $18,750 each to Friends in Need and Hugo Good Neighbors; $6,250 each to St. Andrew’s CRC, Community Helping Hands, Mahtomedi Area Food Shelf, and Scandia Marine Food Shelf
- County cites ~10,400 residents (~5,000 households) on SNAP; action follows USDA notice that no November SNAP will be issued during the shutdown
📚 Contextual Background
- Essential federal functions generally continue during a shutdown, including border protection, law enforcement, air traffic control and power grid maintenance.