Massachusetts advances $4 million to food banks as SNAP payments pause
October 30, 2025 | Office of the Governor, Executive , Massachusetts
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Governor Maura Healey announced on Thursday that Massachusetts will advance $4,000,000 to the states food banks and community partners to help households affected after the federal government paused SNAP benefit disbursements starting this weekend.
"There are over a million residents in Massachusetts who receive SNAP. They're in every city or town. Over 30 percent are seniors. Another third are children," Healey said, adding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is holding about $23,000,000,000 in a contingency fund that could be used to pay benefits.
The state will draw on the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) to advance $4,000,000 to food banks that support more than 800 community organizations, Healey said. "Given the expected spike in demand, we are going to be doubling that," she said. In a question-and-answer exchange, Healey said the advancement is intended to cover one month while litigation and federal action continue.
Why this matters: About one in seven Massachusetts residents receives SNAP, and the pause in federal payments would immediately affect households that rely on the monthly benefit for groceries. Healey noted veterans, seniors and people with disabilities are among those at heightened risk, and she warned that lost SNAP revenue also hurts local grocers and retail workers who depend on program spending.
Immediate nonprofit and private-sector response: United Way of Massachusetts Bay said its United Response Fund has raised more than $1,000,000 in the past week and will both allocate emergency grants and allow organizations to apply for resources. Marty Martinez of United Way said the organization will put out $50,000 tomorrow to several small local access points and has committed funds to the Salem Food Pantry and a Boys and Girls Club to expand distribution and mobile markets already seeing increased demand.
Catherine D'Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank said the network of regional food banks, including Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, is increasing distribution; GBFB reported putting roughly 75 additional pallets into the field daily. Project Breads FoodSource hotline and other local pantries are standing ready to help households find food and assistance.
How to get help or give help: Healey said the state launched a resource hub at mass.gov/snapfreeze and encouraged residents to contact local food pantries, places of worship and municipal websites for assistance. United Way's online portal for donations and applications is at unitedwaymassbay.org/united-response. Project Breads FoodSource Hotline provides live assistance in many languages; Project Bread lists its FoodSource Hotline as 1-800-645-8333 and additional resources at projectbread.org. Greater Boston Food Banks "Need Help?" portal is at gbfb.org/needhelp; regional food banks may be reached through mvfb.org and foodbankwma.org.
Legal and federal context: Healey said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell was in court with other states seeking an order to compel the federal government or USDA to release contingency funds that could cover SNAP disbursements during a federal shutdown. Healey and speakers warned that other federal programsincluding WIC, LIHEAP and Head Startare also at risk as federal funding disruptions continue.
What officials asked of residents and businesses: Officials urged monetary donations, food drives, volunteering and partnerships with food-recovery organizations. Healey highlighted a private-sector commitment from a company identified as R4 Technology to provide 10,000 pounds of fresh produce for distribution in Massachusetts and said supermarket chains such as Big Y have launched in-store fundraising campaigns for local food banks.
The state and nonprofit leaders emphasized that this is an interim measure and called for rapid federal action. "If you're worried right now about how you're gonna feed your family, how you're gonna feed your kids, please call Project Bread," Healey said.
Sources and next steps: Attorney General Andrea Campbell's court action was described as ongoing; state officials said they would continue to monitor needs and distribute emergency funds while urging the federal government to restore SNAP payments.
"There are over a million residents in Massachusetts who receive SNAP. They're in every city or town. Over 30 percent are seniors. Another third are children," Healey said, adding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is holding about $23,000,000,000 in a contingency fund that could be used to pay benefits.
The state will draw on the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) to advance $4,000,000 to food banks that support more than 800 community organizations, Healey said. "Given the expected spike in demand, we are going to be doubling that," she said. In a question-and-answer exchange, Healey said the advancement is intended to cover one month while litigation and federal action continue.
Why this matters: About one in seven Massachusetts residents receives SNAP, and the pause in federal payments would immediately affect households that rely on the monthly benefit for groceries. Healey noted veterans, seniors and people with disabilities are among those at heightened risk, and she warned that lost SNAP revenue also hurts local grocers and retail workers who depend on program spending.
Immediate nonprofit and private-sector response: United Way of Massachusetts Bay said its United Response Fund has raised more than $1,000,000 in the past week and will both allocate emergency grants and allow organizations to apply for resources. Marty Martinez of United Way said the organization will put out $50,000 tomorrow to several small local access points and has committed funds to the Salem Food Pantry and a Boys and Girls Club to expand distribution and mobile markets already seeing increased demand.
Catherine D'Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank said the network of regional food banks, including Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, is increasing distribution; GBFB reported putting roughly 75 additional pallets into the field daily. Project Breads FoodSource hotline and other local pantries are standing ready to help households find food and assistance.
How to get help or give help: Healey said the state launched a resource hub at mass.gov/snapfreeze and encouraged residents to contact local food pantries, places of worship and municipal websites for assistance. United Way's online portal for donations and applications is at unitedwaymassbay.org/united-response. Project Breads FoodSource Hotline provides live assistance in many languages; Project Bread lists its FoodSource Hotline as 1-800-645-8333 and additional resources at projectbread.org. Greater Boston Food Banks "Need Help?" portal is at gbfb.org/needhelp; regional food banks may be reached through mvfb.org and foodbankwma.org.
Legal and federal context: Healey said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell was in court with other states seeking an order to compel the federal government or USDA to release contingency funds that could cover SNAP disbursements during a federal shutdown. Healey and speakers warned that other federal programsincluding WIC, LIHEAP and Head Startare also at risk as federal funding disruptions continue.
What officials asked of residents and businesses: Officials urged monetary donations, food drives, volunteering and partnerships with food-recovery organizations. Healey highlighted a private-sector commitment from a company identified as R4 Technology to provide 10,000 pounds of fresh produce for distribution in Massachusetts and said supermarket chains such as Big Y have launched in-store fundraising campaigns for local food banks.
The state and nonprofit leaders emphasized that this is an interim measure and called for rapid federal action. "If you're worried right now about how you're gonna feed your family, how you're gonna feed your kids, please call Project Bread," Healey said.
Sources and next steps: Attorney General Andrea Campbell's court action was described as ongoing; state officials said they would continue to monitor needs and distribute emergency funds while urging the federal government to restore SNAP payments.
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