700K NC families could lose food assistance amid shutdown. How to get help
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- SNAP and WIC benefits in NC will continue through October 2025. November is TBD.
- USDA paused November SNAP files as agencies weigh contingency funds and decisions.
- Residents can contact food banks, city hotlines or local pantries for emergency aid.
As the federal government shutdown drags on, many North Carolina families are wondering what it could mean for access to food.
Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) help hundreds of thousands of North Carolina residents put food on the table each month — but those benefits depend on federal funding.
For now, state officials say support will continue through the next couple of days. What happens after that, though, is still uncertain.
Here’s what you need to know.
SNAP benefits during government shutdown
SNAP benefits will continue through October, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said last week, but the state had not yet received federal funding to issue November payments on schedule as of Oct. 27.
Around 700,000 households that count on these benefits each month might face gaps or delays, the department said, leaving many without the support they rely on.
Normally, states start preparing and sending those files to the companies that load SNAP money onto EBT cards ahead of time. But because of the shutdown, Food and Nutrition Services is pausing the process.
WIC benefits during government shutdown
Like SNAP, WIC benefits will keep coming through October, according to NCDHHS, while November is still uncertain.
While the federal government might step in to extend benefits, NCDHHS says it doesn’t currently have the funds to continue them past early November, and there’s no guarantee that extra money will come through.
That means the 262,000 women, infants and children in North Carolina who rely on these programs may lose access to benefits at the beginning of next month.
What can you do if you lose access to SNAP or WIC?
If a government shutdown impacts SNAP or WIC benefits, people who rely on them have a few options to get help, including local food banks, local government hotlines that can provide assistance, and community organizations and nonprofits.
Food banks, pantries in NC
Organizations like Feeding America and local community food pantries often step in to fill gaps when federal benefits are delayed. You can find nearby pantries at feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. You can also use these food access maps from NCDHHS to locate resources you need in your area:
- NC211 Emergency Food Access and Basic Needs: Map for all of NC, search by zip code.
- Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC: Find your local food pantry. Call to confirm hours. Covers 34-county area in NC.
- Wake Network of Care: Organized into different maps depending on the type of service needed. Services for Wake County only.
- Durham County Area Food Resources Locator: Locate food resources in Durham County. Available in English and Spanish. Phone friendly maps.
Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham food assistance in NC
Most counties maintain helplines that can connect residents with food, housing and other emergency services:
- Mecklenburg County residents can contact the county Department of Social Services at 704-336-3000 for inquiries and assistance with social services programs. You can also call Crisis Assistance Ministry, an organization that provides emergency food and financial assistance, at 704-371-3001.
- Wake County residents can call 919-256-2181 to reach crisis programs, which include food assistance, or Urban Ministries of Wake County (a food pantry that does not require a referral) at 919-836-1642.
- For Durham County residents, the number to call is 919-560-8000 for help with food assistance programs. Residents can also call the Durham branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina at 919-956-2513 for assistance.
- Chatham County residents can call 919-542-2759 to reach the county’s Department of Social Services. CORA Food Pantry, a food pantry in the county for food-insecure residents can be reached at 919-542-5020.
- Johnston County residents can call the county’s Department of Social Services at 919-989-5300, or visit the county’s directory of local food pantries.
Nonprofit food assistance in NC
Civic groups and nonprofit organizations often provide emergency food boxes, meals or small financial support to their respective communities. Here are some organizations that provide food assistance in Charlotte and the Triangle:
Charlotte:
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (704-376-1785): a major food bank serving Charlotte and surrounding counties, distributing millions of pounds of food annually.
- Feeding Charlotte (704-654-9667): focuses on food rescue (fresh, viable food that might otherwise be thrown away) and redistributing it to people in need.
- Nourish Up (704-523-4333): serves Mecklenburg County with grocery distribution, home delivery and a large network of food pantries.
- Hearts & Hands Food Pantry (980-292-0357): local pantry in Charlotte providing emergency food assistance and options for pick-up or delivery.
- Zealous Empowering Nurturer (ZEN) (704-966-9562): Charlotte-based nonprofit combining community gardening, nutrition education and fresh-food distribution to address food insecurity.
Triangle:
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (919-875-0707): a large nonprofit network serving central and eastern NC (including the Triangle), working with many partner agencies.
- Inter‑Faith Food Shuttle (919-250-0043): they feed neighbors, teach self-sufficiency and grow healthy food.
- Carolina Cares Inc.: volunteer-operated, providing no-cost food, clothes and connections for households facing food insecurity.
- Tri‑Area Ministry Food Pantry (919-556-7144): located in Wake Forest, this pantry is nonprofit, non-denominational, volunteer-run and serves families in need.
Free loaf of bread in Chapel Hill, Durham
Guglhupf is offering a free loaf of bread to people who visit the Durham or Chapel Hill stores with their SNAP benefits card, starting Saturday, Nov. 1.
The Durham store is located at 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. and is open from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. The Chapel Hill store is located at 1800 E. Franklin St. and is open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Anyone who wants to make a donation to support the free bread offer can contribute through Venmo to @guglhupf. Donations should include the word “SNAP,” Guglhupf owner Sean Scott said.
Can I still apply for SNAP, WIC in NC during the shutdown?
Yes. Local Departments of Social Services are open, and you can apply in person, by mail or online at epass.nc.gov. For more information, check out the NCDHHS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 4:53 PM with the headline "700K NC families could lose food assistance amid shutdown. How to get help."
