Idaho families turning to St. Vincent de Paul to offset delay in SNAP benefits

St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho volunteers delivered food to military families in need last winter at Gowen Field in Boise. (Courtesy photo)

By Ralph May

Executive Director

SVdP Southwest Idaho

Editor’s note: The following is a letter from St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho Executive Director, Ralph May, highlighting the need for more food donations amid delays in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. With no end to the delay in sight, SVdP is relying on the community’s support to ensure those in need continue to receive help.

Dear Friends,

We typically close our Boise Food Pantry at noon, but today there was still a line at 1:00 p.m. Families waited patiently—parents, grandparents and neighbors—all hoping to bring home enough food to get through the week.

One neighbor we spoke with was visiting our pantry for the first time. She shared that with the delay in SNAP benefits, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to feed her family.

“I’d heard great things about St. Vincent de Paul,” she said. “I knew I would get the help I needed here.”

Right now, more families than ever are turning to us for food. With the federal government shutdown delaying SNAP benefits, Idaho households are facing an immediate crisis—and they’re showing up at our doors today in search of help.

Even if Idahoans receive partial SNAP benefits for November, it won’t be enough. Many families will still fall short—and St. Vincent de Paul Pantries will need to fill the gap to ensure no one goes hungry.

Many of you know that we deliver food boxes each month to National Guard and Air National Guard families at Gowen Field. We typically provide around 125 boxes per month, but next week they’ve already requested 250 boxes—double the usual number. This increase reflects what we’re seeing across the Treasure Valley: hardworking families and service members alike are feeling the strain and turning to us for help.

Our pantries are currently stocked. We have the volunteers. But as the need continues to rise, your support is essential to help us sustain this response in the days and weeks ahead.

If you or someone you know needs food, please come. Our pantries across the Treasure Valley are open and ready to serve anyone in need.

If you can give, your financial gift makes an immediate difference—it allows our teams to respond quickly and ensure no family leaves without the food they need.

If you’d like to donate food, we especially need non-perishable items like peanut butter and jelly, boxed mac and cheese, cereal, protein bars, and canned tuna.

Together, we can make sure every neighbor who turns to us finds food, compassion, and hope.

With gratitude,

Ralph May

Executive Director

St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho

SVdP Southwest Idaho Executive Director, Ralph May, far right, accepts a donation. (Courtesy photo) 

Make Donation

Your financial gift makes an immediate impact, allowing our team to restock shelves, purchase fresh food, and respond quickly as more families turn to us for help. Every dollar helps ensure no neighbor goes hungry during this critical time. Checks can be sent to: St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho- 5256 W Fairview Ave. Boise, ID 83706. To make a donation online, visit https://www.svdpid.org/donate-boise-food-pantry.

 Donate Non-Perishable Food

If you’d like to donate food, we need non-perishable items such as peanut butter, jelly, boxed macaroni and cheese, cereal, protein bars, and canned veggies.

Food donations can be dropped off at our Boise Food Pantry at 3209 W. Overland Road, Boise, ID 83705, on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Every item donated helps us keep our shelves stocked and ready for the next family in need.

The food items above are what the SVdP recommends donating for use in its Thanksgiving Food Boxes program. (Courtesy photo) 

Donate to Thanksgiving Food Boxes

We anticipate that the demand for Thanksgiving Food Boxes will remain high this year. Each Thanksgiving Food Box provides a full holiday meal — including a turkey, potatoes, and all the traditional fixings — for a family of four to six. For 48 years, this program has brought together volunteers, donors, and community partners to ensure that every family can share in the warmth and tradition of Thanksgiving, regardless of their circumstances. To donate to the Thanksgiving Food Boxes program, visit https://www.svdpid.org/donate-boise-food-pantry.