Standing Together Through SNAP Interruptions
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SNAP funding interruptions are leaving local families unsure how they’ll afford food and heat this winter.
Thousands of Gallatin County residents, including nearly 1,000 children, rely on SNAP each month to meet basic needs. With grocery prices high, winter approaching, and other essential programs like LIHEAP also paused, the impact is being felt across our community.Here’s how you can help right now:
Support local food security efforts by donating to organizations serving families and individuals facing food insecurity.
Donate grocery gift cards to help families buy essentials with dignity and flexibility.
Spread understanding by talking with others about how these interruptions affect our neighbors.
Share your insights if your organization is seeing increased need so we can connect support where it’s needed most.
Give to the Nonprofit Resiliency Fund to help One Valley strengthen and sustain nonprofits responding to this crisis.
Together, we can help ensure every neighbor has access to the essentials they need.
Many Montanans are feeling the effects of recent interruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) caused by a federal funding lapse.
Here in Gallatin County and across southwest Montana, thousands of families are entering the month unsure how they’ll afford groceries and heat their homes. The timing is very challenging, with grocery prices high, winter approaching, and heating assistance programs like LIHEAP also on pause.
These Are Our Neighbors
The people affected by the SNAP interruptions are the same people who make Gallatin County the place we all love to call home. They are employees at local businesses, parents volunteering in schools, caregivers, and seniors who have spent their lives contributing to this community. With the high cost of living and wages that have not kept pace, many households rely on SNAP to help close the gap between what they earn and what it takes to meet basic needs. These benefits provide stability for families who are already doing everything they can to make ends meet.
The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), a local nonprofit that provides essential services across southwest Montana, reports that nearly 3,000 families in their service area rely on SNAP and LIHEAP to help cover groceries and winter heating costs. With both programs experiencing funding interruptions, thousands of Montana families are unsure how they’ll put food on the table or keep their homes heated this winter.
Local Impact in Gallatin County
“With the cost of living already a challenge for many families, these disruptions compound financial strain. As we head into the holiday season, we anticipate both increased need and increased community generosity as neighbors respond to support one another.”
Heather Grenier,
HRDC
President & CEO
“Reach clients have developmental disabilities, most of them work, and there are restrictions on their income and resources (savings) in order to keep receiving Reach's support. If they could afford to buy their food without assistance, they would."
Dee Metrick,
Reach
Executive Director
“We expect that many parents will not be able to purchase food for themselves and their families for an unknown amount of time, at this point. And if they use money that they originally set aside to pay for rent, utilities, transportation, etc., for food, then they are at risk of losing access to basic needs, which could affect their mental health.”
Maria Malloy and Cindy Ballew,
Thrive
Program Managers
“A federal freeze on SNAP benefits has real and immediate consequences. Here in Gallatin Valley, families who lose even a few hundred dollars in monthly food support suddenly face impossible trade-off decisions: paying rent or buying groceries, filling a prescription or feeding their kids.”
Christel Chvilicek,
Family Promise
Executive Director
“The individuals we serve will face greater food insecurity and financial stress. For many families, these funding interruptions remove the stability they rely on to simply get by.”
Susie Rodriguez, MIJA
Executive Director
What You Can Do
Donate to local food security efforts.
Financial donations or food contributions to organizations addressing food insecurity, like HRDC, the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Reach Inc., and Thrive, make an immediate difference. Donations allow these organizations to buy in bulk and respond quickly to evolving needs.
Provide grocery gift cards.
Gift cards to local supermarkets help families buy the essentials they need most with flexibility and dignity. You can drop off or mail grocery gift cards to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Reach Inc., or Thrive.
Support nonprofits stepping up.
Many organizations are expanding programs or creating temporary food resources to meet the surge in need. A quick call, donation, or volunteer shift can make a meaningful difference.
Spread understanding.
The people impacted by these interruptions are our neighbors. Talking openly and compassionately about who is affected helps break down stigma and strengthen community support.
Give Directly to Gallatin County Organizations
Explore some of the local organizations that are helping individuals and families affected by SNAP interruptions.
HRDC | Thrive | Reach Inc. | Family Promise | West Yellowstone Senior Center | Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance
To be added to this list, please fill out our SNAP Survey.
Need guidance? We are here to help.
At One Valley Community Foundation, we are built for moments like this. In times of uncertainty, we aim to provide clarity and connection by helping donors understand where support is needed most. If you’re considering how to make a meaningful impact or align your giving with your personal or business goals, we are here to help.
Reach out to Bridget Wilkinson, One Valley’s President & CEO, at bridget@onevalley.org to set up a time to talk about how your philanthropy can make the most difference in our community.
If you’re unsure where to give, consider a gift to the Nonprofit Resiliency Fund. This fund helps One Valley strengthen and sustain local nonprofits by providing timely and practical support, like expert guidance, training, and resources, so organizations can continue serving our community when it’s needed most.
For Local Nonprofits
We want to hear from you. If your organization is seeing increased need or new challenges related to SNAP interruptions, please complete our brief survey and share how our community can support your work. Your insights will help One Valley connect community support where it’s needed most.
The information in this post is current as of November 4, 2025. One Valley Community Foundation will continue to share updates as the situation evolves.