Food assistance for low-income residents in Ouray County will likely be cut off at the end of the month due to the federal government shutdown, leaving an estimated 170 households with less money and at risk of hunger.

It’s unclear whether the state will be able to bridge the funding gap for these households, according to information Ouray County Human Services Director Linnea Edwards provided to county commissioners during their meeting Tuesday.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, doesn’t have money appropriated for November, and that means states are left without funds to distribute. Normally these funds are added monthly to cards used like debit cards at grocery stores to purchase eligible foods. It’s unclear how much money would be required to meet the need for those with benefits in Ouray County.

During previous government shutdowns, the program had appropriated funds that continued to be distributed. But this time, it’s different. Three weeks into the shutdown, it’s unclear whether funds will be available.

After hearing the news from Edwards, Commissioner Lynn Padgett brainstormed numerous ways the county could support those households if benefits are cut off Nov. 1. She asked Edwards to calculate the cost of bridging the gap in funding.

It’s possible funds could be used from the Ouray County Response Fund, established during the pandemic through the Telluride Foundation.

County commissioners discussed helping set up more locations for food donations, perhaps at the county courthouse. There are already two locations for donations to the Ouray County Food Pantry — at Alpine Bank locations and a small box behind the door at the Ridgway Post Office. The food pantry accepts donations as well on Thursdays at its Ridgway location. There is also a small food pantry provided by the Ouray Library District at 320 Sixth Ave. The library is accepting donations and the pantry is available for those in need when the building is open.

Padgett suggested asking philanthropists to help raise that sum to distribute to families. She also asked if the county could cover the cost of adding funds to the benefit cards and be reimbursed later by the federal government.

“Can we load these cards so that people don’t go hungry, especially during the month that has Thanksgiving in it?” Padgett said.

Edwards said the state has explored options for loading the cards itself, but it’s unclear how reimbursement would work.

Edwards said the Ouray County Food Pantry is ready to handle increased demand. But according to the pantry’s board president, the nonprofit is not prepared to distribute food to 170 households. The pantry has been serving 28 to 30 clients per week, according to Ouray County Food Pantry Board President Bev Angehrn. She said she plans to order more food for November distribution, anticipating the rise in need due to the situation with the SNAP benefits, but it’s hard to tell right now what the demand will be.

If 170 households showed up in one week, “we wouldn’t have enough food on hand,” Angehrn said. “We might run out.”

The pantry

The Ouray County Food Pantry, located at 602 Cora St. in Ridgway, is open for distribution on Thursdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The food pantry only requires proof of residency in Ouray County, which can be provided with any document with an address, like an identification card or even a utility bill. It does not require proof of income.

Last year, the food pantry served 133 households, averaging 24 per week, according to Angehrn. Many of those households are older adults who rely on Social Security payments, though others include working adults who need assistance to make ends meet.

The pantry, which is run entirely by volunteers, relies on monetary donations allowing them to purchase foods for distribution. Those foods mainly come from the regional Food Bank of the Rockies warehouse in Grand Junction, which also passes along federal commodities distributions to the pantry each month. But sometimes the pantry needs to purchase foods to supplement others it receives from the food bank, and obtains those at a wholesale price from Mountain Market. The Ridgway grocery store also regularly donates food to the pantry.

Often, Angehrn uses donated funds to purchase milk, vegetables and fruits at wholesale prices to supplement the lowcost shelf-stable foods provided through the larger food bank. Lately, she has experienced challenges obtaining frozen proteins like beef, chicken and fish. In the last three months, she has only been able to source a frozen protein once from the Food Bank of the Rockies. While she can request certain items, they sometimes are not available.

Donations

The food pantry is able to make monetary donations stretch to feed more families, due to the low prices it gets from purchasing foods through the Food Bank of the Rockies, which serves food pantries throughout the region.

For example, a can of corn purchased through the larger food bank costs 66 cents, and a pound of ground beef is $2.69. A jar of applesauce is 93 cents, and a 15-ounce can of black beans is 61 cents. That means the food pantry can stretch dollars further and supply more meals with donations than donors can purchase on their own.

If community members would like to purchase foods for donation, Angehrn said the clients appreciate items like cereal and snack foods. She also recommended items like toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies and detergent, which can be expensive. A full list of most-desired items is available on the food pantry’s website.

The pantry is unable to accept donations of expired food or food in damaged packages.

Volunteers are available to accept donations at the food pantry from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays, while they are assembling foods for distribution.

The pantry has a large freezer and is able to accept donations of meats processed in USDA-inspected facilities, including beef and wild game. To arrange donation of those items, please contact the pantry at 970-626-4273.

Monetary donations can be made online at ouraycountyfoodpantry.org or by check to P.O. Box 903, Ridgway, CO 81432.

Anyone with a large donation can contact Angehrn at 970-626-4273 to make arrangements.

Lia Salvatierra is a journalist with Report for America, a service program that helps boost underserved areas with more reporting resources.