‘It’s been coming on strong’

Residents juggle food assistance in lieu of SNAP benefits

NEWPORT — Newport saw the largest Second Harvest Food Distribution in its history last Thursday during the free food giveaway at the Newport Rodeo Grounds, according to Debbie Buckley, Chair of The Mission and Social Concerns Committee of the American Lutheran Church (ALC). Approximately 465 families were served, equaling 12,513 meals, Buckley said.

In lieu of the federal government shutdown that started Oct. 1, the status of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits has been uncertain, leaving families and individuals that depend on those services in a state of food flux. As of Monday, Nov. 10 U.S. District judge Indira Talwani said she would continue to block President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing a memo written Sunday, Nov. 9, directing states to “undo” the issuance of full SNAP benefits.

In Pend Oreille County, around 3,500 people get food benefits each month, according to Norah West, Assistant Director of the Office of Communications and Government Affairs for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

“The date is different for everyone, but benefits are issued the first through the 20th, and the date is always the same,” West said in an email to The Miner. “So, if you get benefits on the third of April, you’ll also get them the third May, December, etc.”

According to news reports, the administration is currently seeking to “undo” hundreds of millions of dollars in SNAP benefits that went out after the U.S. Department of Agriculture told states last Friday afternoon that it was “working towards implementing November 2025 full benefit issuances” to comply with a court order.

The primary eligibility factor to receive SNAP benefits is a household’s gross monthly income, the amount a person makes before taxes or deductions. To qualify, a household income needs to be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Caleb Ziesmer, who lives in the Deer Valley area of Newport, says he has received SNAP benefits on and off throughout his life. Currently, he says he is making too much money to qualify for food assistance, but he was grateful that it was there when he needed it.

“There’s no possible way for anybody to live comfortably anymore without help,” Ziesmer said. “If I made $30 an hour, after the cost of renting, gas, car insurance, basic necessities for the month, the cost of maintenance to a house or vehicle, the fact nothing is built to last anymore, there’s no possible way to eat comfortably and live comfortably, especially in a family situation.”

Ziesmer has two school-age children who he splits custody of with their mother. He acknowledged that it is hard to feed growing children on a budget and doesn’t judge anyone who needs SNAP assistance.

“I am never going to speak down on somebody who needs SNAP benefits, and I’ll never agree with anybody who does, because in the end sometimes people just need help,” Ziesmer said.

Local food banks have seen an increase in client services in the past couple of weeks. Last week the Newport Food Bank served 128 families, equaling 364 people, according to food bank manager Pearl Pulford. She said the food bank normally serves around 62 to 100 families per week.

“People have been very kind in stepping up and getting us what we need,” Pulford said. “We’re taking care of each other.”

The number of families at the Cusick Food Pantry went from an average of 70 per week to 92–97 in the last two weeks, according to pantry director Joyce Beach. “It’s been coming on strong,” Beach said of area residents needing food assistance.

Food Resources Pend Oreille County:

Soup Kitchen, Hospitality House, 4–5 p.m. Monday–Sunday, 216 S. Washington Ave., Newport 509-447-3812 Food donation table, Hospitality House, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday–Friday, 9–11 a.m. Saturdays, non-perishable food items on table next to bookshelves for those in need 509-447-3812 Newport Food Bank, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Tuesdays, Pine Street, Newport 509-447-1168 Cusick Food Pantry, 9–10:30 a.m.

Tuesdays, basement of Pend Oreille Bible Church, 402 River Rd., Cusick 509-939-2349 Emergency Food Bank of Ione, 10 a.m.–11 a.m. Thursdays, 402 1/2 Houghton St., Ione 509-442-3222 Parkside Church, free dinner, 4:30–6 p.m. Tuesdays, 1428 1st St., Newport, for more information, call the Sandpoint Parkside Main Church, 208-263-2676 Diamond Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church, meal 12:30 p.m. first Sunday of the month, 326002 Hwy. 2, Newport, 402-770-5435 Diner’s Choice (meal coupons for local restaurants), Newport only, Rural Resources, ages 60 and older, call Trisha Dahl, 509-685-6054 to determine eligibility Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Rural Resources, low-income people ages 60 and older, call Trisha Dahl, 509-685-6054 to determine eligibility One-time events: Nov. 24: Rural Resources Mobile Food Pantry, Metaline Falls Town Hall, Fifth Avenue, Metaline Falls, 509-855-4693 Dec. 10: Second Harvest Mobile Market Food Giveaway, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Kalispel Casino, 420 Qlispe River Way, Cusick, check Second Harvest website for last minute changes www.2-harvest.org/ food-near-me

North Idaho

Priest River Food Bank, 12–5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Thursday, 45 S. McKinley St. #107, Priest River, 208448-4989 St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Food Bank Sundays, Priest River, call 208448-2127 for more information Blanchard Grange Food Pantry, 10– 11:30 a.m. second and fourth Tuesday of every month, Blanchard Grange Hall, 459 Rusho Lane, Blanchard, 208-6515122 Priest Lake Food Bank, 12–3 p.m. first and third Tuesday of every month, Lutheran Church Building, 26508 Hwy.

57, Priest Lake, [email protected] Spirit Lake Food Bank, 12–3 p.m.

Wednesdays, 32154 4th Ave, Spirit Lake, 208-623-3107

One-time events:

Nov. 21: House of the Lord Church, Thanksgiving meal giveaway, 754 Silver Birch Lane, Oldtown, must call 208-4372184 by Wednesday, Nov. 19 no later than 3:30 p.m.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.