If you rely on SNAP benefits to feed your family, the news breaking this Friday afternoon is alarming: SNAP payments are scheduled to stop tomorrow, Saturday. And while a federal judge has ordered emergency funding, that money will not reach your EBT card in time for the weekend.
This means millions of Americans could find themselves at the grocery store checkout with empty cards and full carts—a nightmare scenario that no family should have to face.
But before you panic, know this: there are immediate steps you can take right now to protect your family and ensure you have access to food this weekend. Watch this urgent video first for the three most critical actions you need to take in the next 24 hours:
Beyond the Basics: Additional Strategies to Weather This Crisis
The video above covers the three essential steps everyone needs to take immediately. But if you want to go further and build a more comprehensive safety net for your family this weekend, here are additional strategies and resources most people don’t know about.
Leverage Store-Specific Emergency Programs
Many major grocery chains have little-known programs that can help during benefit disruptions:
Walmart and Sam’s Club operate food banks directly inside many locations. Ask at customer service if your local store participates. These in-store food banks often have immediate availability without appointments.
Target partners with Feeding America and many locations serve as food distribution sites on weekends. Call your local Target and ask if they host weekend food distributions.
ALDI runs a “Feeding America Partnership” where unsold but perfectly good food goes to local communities. They often coordinate with churches and community centers for Saturday morning pickups.
Tap Into Faith-Based Resources (No Membership Required)
You don’t need to be a member of any religious organization to access their food assistance:
Seventh-day Adventist Churches often run “Community Services” food pantries that are open to anyone. They typically operate on specific weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Catholic Charities operates one of the largest private food assistance networks in America. Find your local branch and ask about emergency food assistance—no questions asked about your faith or background.
Sikh Gurdwaras offer free community meals (Langar) to anyone who walks through their doors, regardless of religion, income, or background. Many serve meals on weekends.
Islamic Centers and Mosques frequently run food pantries, especially during and after Ramadan. Many have Saturday programs specifically designed for working families.
Maximize What’s Already In Your Kitchen
While you’re securing external resources, make the most of what you already have:
Conduct a complete pantry audit. Pull everything out and actually see what you have. Those random cans in the back, the dry goods you forgot about, the freezer items buried under ice—it all counts.
Use free meal planning apps. SuperCook and MyFridgeFood let you input ingredients you already have and generate recipes. This helps you avoid buying duplicates and stretch what you own.
Connect with Buy Nothing Groups. Search Facebook for “Buy Nothing [Your Neighborhood].” These hyperlocal groups help neighbors share food, and people often post fresh produce, pantry staples, and prepared meals. You can request what you need, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your neighbors respond.
Emergency SNAP Alternatives You Can Access This Weekend
Several programs can provide immediate relief while SNAP funding gets sorted out:
WIC Emergency Services: If you have young children, contact your local WIC office. Even if you don’t normally qualify for WIC, they often have emergency food packages available during crises and can direct you to immediate resources.
Senior Food Programs: If you’re over 60, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides emergency food boxes. Call your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-677-1116 to find your nearest distribution site.
Food Rescue Apps: Download apps like Too Good To Go, Flashfood, and Olio. These apps connect you with restaurants and grocery stores selling surplus food at massive discounts (often 50-80% off) or giving it away free to prevent waste.
University Food Pantries: If you live near a college or university, call their student services department. Many campus food pantries serve the surrounding community, not just students, especially during weekends when students are away.
Smart Shopping Strategies If You Still Have Some EBT Balance
If you checked your balance (as the video recommended) and you have some funds remaining, make every dollar count:
Shop at discount grocery outlets first. Grocery Outlet, Save-A-Lot, and ethnic grocery stores often have prices 30-40% lower than major chains. Your EBT dollars go much further.
Focus on cost-per-calorie, not just price. Rice, beans, pasta, oats, peanut butter, and eggs give you the most nutrition and fullness per dollar spent.
Buy frozen vegetables over fresh. They’re often cheaper, last longer, and have the same nutritional value. Plus, there’s no waste if your benefits situation remains uncertain.
Check the markdown section religiously. Most stores discount meat, dairy, and bread in the morning. Hit the store early Saturday and head straight for the discount racks.
Skip the name brands entirely. Store brands are typically 20-30% cheaper and the quality difference is negligible for staples like rice, pasta, canned goods, and frozen vegetables.
What to Do If You Have Children
Kids need special consideration during food emergencies:
School Meal Hotlines: Call your school district’s main number and ask about emergency weekend meals. Many districts have crisis protocols that activate when SNAP disruptions occur.
Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 to find free summer meal sites near you. While designed for summer, many programs operate year-round.
Contact your child’s school counselor or social worker directly. They have access to emergency resources and discretionary funds specifically for situations like this. They can often provide grocery gift cards or connect you with immediate help.
Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, and recreation centers often provide snacks and meals during their weekend programs. Even if your child doesn’t normally attend, call and explain your situation—they’ll help.
Create a Communication Network
You shouldn’t face this alone:
Text three trusted people right now and let them know what’s happening. They might offer to share a meal, do a grocery run together to save on gas, or watch your kids while you visit food pantries.
Join local Facebook groups like “[Your City] Mom’s Group,” “[Your City] Community Support,” or neighborhood-specific groups. These communities rally during crises and often organize food shares, meal trains, and group shopping trips.
Check Nextdoor for your neighborhood. Neighbors often post about available food, garden produce, or bulk buying opportunities that can help stretch your resources.
Prepare for Next Week Too
This weekend is critical, but you need to think ahead:
Call your SNAP caseworker Monday morning. Get on their calendar early. Ask specifically about emergency allotments, expedited recertification, or crisis supplements that might be available.
Document everything. Take photos of your empty EBT transactions, save news articles about the funding stoppage, and keep records of when you tried to use your card. This documentation may be important if you need to appeal decisions or apply for emergency relief.
Register for emergency alerts from your state’s SNAP agency. Many states send text alerts when benefits are loaded or when there are system-wide issues.
The Bigger Picture: You’re Not Alone
Over 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits. This disruption affects entire communities, not just individual families. The resources listed here exist because situations like this happen, and communities have built systems to help each other survive.
Food insecurity is not a personal failure—it’s a systemic issue that requires community solutions. Every resource mentioned in this article, from food banks to mutual aid groups to faith-based programs, exists because people recognize that access to food is a fundamental human need.
Take Action Right Now
Here’s your complete action plan:
In the next 30 minutes:
- Watch the video above and complete the three essential steps
- Text three trusted people about your situation
- Download a food rescue app
- Check Buy Nothing and Nextdoor for your area
This weekend:
- Visit at least one food pantry (bring ID and proof of address)
- Call any faith-based organizations near you
- Check store markdown sections early Saturday morning
- Connect with other families facing the same situation
Monday morning:
- Call your SNAP caseworker
- Contact your child’s school if applicable
- Document everything for your records
You’ve got this. Take it one step at a time, use every resource available, and remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Share this article with anyone who might need it—we all need to look out for each other right now.