Citizens rise to assist those affected by SNAP curtailment

Tara Otten, her husband and son, Ernie and Terner, and family members Shayna and Wes Martin, Linda and LaRay Mundell and Jessica Mundell, pulled together pop-up food pantries on Nov. 7 and 14 on Country Club Drive, in order to help those affected by the government shutdown and its impact upon the SNAP program. Photo contributed by Tara Otten.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

The most vulnerable of citizens are among those hit the hardest by the government shutdown.

During the shutdown, which technically ended midweek, SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, became a pawn in a tug-of-war between Democratic and Republican lawmakers, each set upon holding out in negotiations that could well have put an early end to the SNAP defunding.

But that didn’t happen.

Instead, funding for the SNAP program was curtailed, depriving recipients (primarily women and children) of funds to buy such food staples as dairy products, produce and meat.

While the settlement has been reached and the government hasreopened, it will still take time for the systems in place to once again regain their momentum, and restore food to America’s tables.

While lawmakers with the capability of reaching a resolution continued the stall, a growing awareness of the crisis spread across the land.

Here in the heartland, as well as in other portions of the nation, a groundswell of support arose from the churches, civic organizations, businesses and individuals.

Tara Otten, who leads classes at Twisted Juniper Yoga studio in Hannibal’s historic district, was among those spurred to “do something.

“I was in shock, in the United States of America, we are supposed to help our people. No one should be hungry. It broke my heart and I didn’t know what to do.”

Then, an inspiration came to her: On Thursday, Nov. 6, “My sisters, Mom and I put food in my front yard with a sign on the table to take what you need.”

As a yoga instructor, she felt particularly pulled to help.

“Part of yoga is studying selfless service; just be kind, without worrying about getting anything back from it. My thought was to do something to help others, rather than to complain, which is what I was doing.”

Living, as she does, on the south end of Country Club Drive - a busy corridor - she came up with the inspiration for the pop-up food pantry.

 “My dad had tables and chairs from his rental business, she said.

Tara, her sisters and parents purchased food at Save A Lot and Aldi, where they do their own grocery shopping. “We put out a lot of canned goods, loaves of bread, peanut butter, oatmeal, pasta, coffee, tea, sugar and flour, non perishable necessities.

Their actions attracted donations from others who wanted to help.

“A neighbor made up individual meals of pasta and canned meat, plus dessert, for 10 meals. Another brought dried milk, apple juice, granola bars and boxes of cereal.”

They opened at 7 a.m. “The first two people just took what they needed, boxed pasta and a thing of sauce, very small amounts.

“Mostly, I didn’t want people to feel like they were being watched. So I took my dogs out. Every one of the tables stayed nice and neat, nothing thrown around in our yard. People were very grateful. There are not a lot of bad people in this world.

‘At 7 p.m., I had two cans and a bag of rice left. I could still see people outside with flashlights.”

Tara and her family once again hosted a pop-up food pantry in the same location on Thursday, Nov. 13. Even there they had lots more donations, by 1:30 p.m., most of the food was gone. “A woman was crying,” Tara said. “She gave me a hug. She said they had fallen on hard times and needed some help. I hope we can help as many people we can.”

Tara feels a connection to people suffering from food vulnerability.

“I have family and friends who have had to deal with food insecurity,” she said. “What I think is important, once I realize we’re all pretty close … we could all easily find ourselves in that position. It would be so easy for anyone to find themselves in need of help.

“Hannibal has an awful lot of people who need help.”