Politics

Messenger: The shutdown is over but SNAP recipients in Missouri are still hungry

Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Something really important happened during the recently ended shutdown of the federal government: poor people mattered. kAm%96C6 H6C6 5F6=:?8 9625=:?6D 7@C 52JD 23@FE E96 $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD6DD>6?E !C@8C2>[ H9:49 96=AD A6@A=6 =:G:?8 :? A@G6CEJ — D6?:@C 4:E:K6?D[ 72>:=:6D[ 5:D23=65 7@= 5C:65 FA[ 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 C6D:56?ED[ ?@?AC@7:ED 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 96=5 7@@5 5C:G6D]k^Am kAm%96C6 H6C6 A:4EFC6D @7 A6@A=6 DE2?5:?8 :? =@?8 =:?6D E@ 86E H92E6G6C H2D @776C65] (9:=6 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D 3:46 7@C E96 D9FE5@H?[ E96C6 H2D 2 3C:67 >@>6?E H96? D66>:?8=J 6G6CJ3@5J 42C65 23@FE >2A@CE2?E $}p! 36?67:ED 2C6[” D2JD z2E:6 s623=6C]k^Am kAm$96’D 2? 2EE@C?6J H:E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?4=6;]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?:4 yFDE:46k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E E92E 92D 366? :?G@=G65 :? 2? @?8@:?8 =2HDF:E :? |:DD@FC: E@ >2] %96 =2HDF:E H2D 7:=65 :? a_aa :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=D6>]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?k^2m] xE :56?E:7:65 2 >2;@C AC@3=6> :? |:DD@FC:’D >2?286>6?E @7 $}p!i 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 H9@ BF2=:7J 7@C E96 7@@5 2:5 42?’E 2446DD :E 3642FD6 E96 2FE@>2E65 A9@?6 DJDE6> 92?8D FA @? E96> 367@C6 E96J 86E 2AAC@G65]k^Am “I got to do what I got to do to make sure my kids eat,” said Elisha McIntosh, of St. Louis, who gets emotional during a prayer circle before the food bank opens at West Side Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. As a SNAP recipient with four kids, McIntosh is grateful for the support from the pantry. Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch kAm%9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6 24C@DD |:DD@FC:[ :? 3@E9 CFC2= 2?5 FC32? 2C62D[ 42?’E 86E $}p!]k^Am kAm“%92E’D ?@E 2 AC@3=6> E92E :D 6?E:C6=J 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 2H2J H96? E96 8@G6C?>6?E C6@A6?D[” s623=6C D2:5] “%96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 :? 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ H9@ 42?’E 2446DD E96D6 36?67:ED C682C5=6DD @7 H92E r@?8C6DD 5@6D]”k^Am kAmp 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 28@[ x HC@E6 23@FE @?6 @7 E96 =625 A=2:?E:77D :? E96 =2HDF:E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^>6EC@^2CE:4=60`ce7fg7`\ab64\dhea\36f2\7_cg6f77`c4f]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?6Dk^2m[ H9@ =:G6D @? 5:D23:=:EJ A2J>6?ED] $96 =:G6D :? ?@CE9 $E] {@F:D 2?5 E26D H2D HC@?8=J 42?46=65 7C@> $}p! 5F6 E@ 2 3FC62F4C2E:4 D?27F[ D96 42==65 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ 86E 96C 36?67:ED EFC?65 3246?E @7 $@4:2= $6CG:46D E@ >2] p>@?8 9:D C6BF:C6>6?ED H2D 7@C E96 DE2E6 E@ 7:=6 >@?E9=J AC@8C6DD C6A@CED] p J62C =2E6C[ |:DD@FC: 92D 2AA62=65 9:D CF=:?8 2?5 :D 7:89E:?8 :E[ 6G6? 27E6C 25>:EE:?8 :? 4@FCE E92E :E :D 72:=:?8 :? :ED @3=:82E:@?D]k^Am kAm%9:?2 24EF2==J H@C :? |:DD@FC: D@ A6@A=6 42? C646:G6 E96:C 36?67:ED[” s623=6C D2:5]k^Am kAm%9:D H662? C:89ED :DDF6]k^Am kAm“%96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 7@@5 42??@E 36 @G6CDE2E65[” E96 3C:67 C625D] “}6:E96C 42? E96 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 9F?86C] r@FCED 92G6 =@?8 C64@8?:K65 E92E 7@@5 56AC:G2E:@? 4C62E6D 2 ‘3CFE2= ?665’ H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E[ =2DE:?8 92C>D]”k^Am kAm%92E ‘3CFE2= ?665’ 92D 366? 9:89=:89E65 C646?E=J :? |:DD@FC:[ D2JD z2E96C:?6 w@==6J[ @?6 @7 E96 2EE@C?6JD 7@C {682= $6CG:46D @7 t2DE6C? |:DD@FC:] w6C @77:46 92D D66? 2? FAE:4 4=:6?ED H9@ 42?’E 2446DD E96:C $}p! 36?67:ED @C 42?’E 86E 2 =:G6 A6CD@? @? E96 A9@?6] $@>6 @7 :E :D C6=2E65 E@ E96 D9FE5@H?[ 3FE E96 8C@H:?8 ?665[ w@==6J 762CD[ >2J 2=D@ 36 5F6 E@ C:D:?8 8C@46CJ DE@C6 AC:46D 2?5 @E96C 64@?@>:4 AC6DDFC6D]k^Am kAm“!6@A=6 2C6 G6CJ FAD6E 2?5 5:DEC2F89E[” w@==6J D2:5] “%96J DE2CE E@ 92G6 E@ E9:?62?D D6?E E@ 7665 J@FC 62?D 564:5:?8 36EH66? >65:4:?6 2?5 7@@5[ @C C6?E 2?5 7@@5] p?5 E96 564:D:@?D 2C6 6G6? >@C6 DEC6DD7F= H96? J@F 92G6 E@ DE2J @? 9@=5 7@C 7@FC 9@FCD ;FDE E@ 7:?5 @FE :7 J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E E96 36?67:ED J@F 56D6CG6]k^Am kAm“(6’C6 86EE:?8 2 =@E @7 4@?E24E 7C@> 4FCC6?E 4=:6?ED 2?5 7@C>6C 4=:6?ED[ H9@ 2C6 C6249:?8 @FE E@ FD 5:DEC6DD65 3642FD6 E96J 2C6?’E C646:G:?8 E96:C 36?67:ED E9:D >@?E9[” w@==6J D2:5] “%96J DE:== ?665 E@ 62E]”k^Am Messenger: Lawsuit highlights Missouri’s failure to get food aid to people who need it Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Messenger: For the poor, a bump in Social Security means a cut in food aid. ‘Just not fair.’ Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Missouri fails when it comes to providing health care or food to poor people Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Pastor has advice for St. Louis: Learn from folks battling homelessness Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Missouri is bad at feeding poor people. SNAP cuts will make it worse. Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Food pantries in St. Louis face longer lines and rising prices Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch St. Louis Post-Dispatch metro columnist Tony Messenger thanks his readers and explains how to get in contact with him. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Messenger: The shutdown is over but SNAP recipients in Missouri are still hungry
Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Something really important happened during the recently ended shutdown of the federal government: poor people mattered. kAm%96C6 H6C6 5F6=:?8 9625=:?6D 7@C 52JD 23@FE E96 $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD6DD>6?E !C@8C2>[ H9:49 96=AD A6@A=6 =:G:?8 :? A@G6CEJ — D6?:@C 4:E:K6?D[ 72>:=:6D[ 5:D23=65 7@= 5C:65 FA[ 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 C6D:56?ED[ ?@?AC@7:ED 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 96=5 7@@5 5C:G6D]k^Am kAm%96C6 H6C6 A:4EFC6D @7 A6@A=6 DE2?5:?8 :? =@?8 =:?6D E@ 86E H92E6G6C H2D @776C65] (9:=6 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D 3:46 7@C E96 D9FE5@H?[ E96C6 H2D 2 3C:67 >@>6?E H96? D66>:?8=J 6G6CJ3@5J 42C65 23@FE >2A@CE2?E $}p! 36?67:ED 2C6[” D2JD z2E:6 s623=6C]k^Am kAm$96’D 2? 2EE@C?6J H:E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?4=6;]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?:4 yFDE:46k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E E92E 92D 366? :?G@=G65 :? 2? @?8@:?8 =2HDF:E :? |:DD@FC: E@ >2] %96 =2HDF:E H2D 7:=65 :? a_aa :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=D6>]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?k^2m] xE :56?E:7:65 2 >2;@C AC@3=6> :? |:DD@FC:’D >2?286>6?E @7 $}p!i 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 H9@ BF2=:7J 7@C E96 7@@5 2:5 42?’E 2446DD :E 3642FD6 E96 2FE@>2E65 A9@?6 DJDE6> 92?8D FA @? E96> 367@C6 E96J 86E 2AAC@G65]k^Am “I got to do what I got to do to make sure my kids eat,” said Elisha McIntosh, of St. Louis, who gets emotional during a prayer circle before the food bank opens at West Side Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. As a SNAP recipient with four kids, McIntosh is grateful for the support from the pantry. Liz Rymarev, Post-Dispatch kAm%9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6 24C@DD |:DD@FC:[ :? 3@E9 CFC2= 2?5 FC32? 2C62D[ 42?’E 86E $}p!]k^Am kAm“%92E’D ?@E 2 AC@3=6> E92E :D 6?E:C6=J 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 2H2J H96? E96 8@G6C?>6?E C6@A6?D[” s623=6C D2:5] “%96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 :? 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ H9@ 42?’E 2446DD E96D6 36?67:ED C682C5=6DD @7 H92E r@?8C6DD 5@6D]”k^Am kAmp 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 28@[ x HC@E6 23@FE @?6 @7 E96 =625 A=2:?E:77D :? E96 =2HDF:E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^>6EC@^2CE:4=60`ce7fg7`\ab64\dhea\36f2\7_cg6f77`c4f]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?6Dk^2m[ H9@ =:G6D @? 5:D23:=:EJ A2J>6?ED] $96 =:G6D :? ?@CE9 $E] {@F:D 2?5 E26D H2D HC@?8=J 42?46=65 7C@> $}p! 5F6 E@ 2 3FC62F4C2E:4 D?27F[ D96 42==65 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ 86E 96C 36?67:ED EFC?65 3246?E @7 $@4:2= $6CG:46D E@ >2] p>@?8 9:D C6BF:C6>6?ED H2D 7@C E96 DE2E6 E@ 7:=6 >@?E9=J AC@8C6DD C6A@CED] p J62C =2E6C[ |:DD@FC: 92D 2AA62=65 9:D CF=:?8 2?5 :D 7:89E:?8 :E[ 6G6? 27E6C 25>:EE:?8 :? 4@FCE E92E :E :D 72:=:?8 :? :ED @3=:82E:@?D]k^Am kAm%9:?2 24EF2==J H@C :? |:DD@FC: D@ A6@A=6 42? C646:G6 E96:C 36?67:ED[” s623=6C D2:5]k^Am kAm%9:D H662? C:89ED :DDF6]k^Am kAm“%96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 7@@5 42??@E 36 @G6CDE2E65[” E96 3C:67 C625D] “}6:E96C 42? E96 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 9F?86C] r@FCED 92G6 =@?8 C64@8?:K65 E92E 7@@5 56AC:G2E:@? 4C62E6D 2 ‘3CFE2= ?665’ H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E[ =2DE:?8 92C>D]”k^Am kAm%92E ‘3CFE2= ?665’ 92D 366? 9:89=:89E65 C646?E=J :? |:DD@FC:[ D2JD z2E96C:?6 w@==6J[ @?6 @7 E96 2EE@C?6JD 7@C {682= $6CG:46D @7 t2DE6C? |:DD@FC:] w6C @77:46 92D D66? 2? FAE:4 4=:6?ED H9@ 42?’E 2446DD E96:C $}p! 36?67:ED @C 42?’E 86E 2 =:G6 A6CD@? @? E96 A9@?6] $@>6 @7 :E :D C6=2E65 E@ E96 D9FE5@H?[ 3FE E96 8C@H:?8 ?665[ w@==6J 762CD[ >2J 2=D@ 36 5F6 E@ C:D:?8 8C@46CJ DE@C6 AC:46D 2?5 @E96C 64@?@>:4 AC6DDFC6D]k^Am kAm“!6@A=6 2C6 G6CJ FAD6E 2?5 5:DEC2F89E[” w@==6J D2:5] “%96J DE2CE E@ 92G6 E@ E9:?62?D D6?E E@ 7665 J@FC 62?D 564:5:?8 36EH66? >65:4:?6 2?5 7@@5[ @C C6?E 2?5 7@@5] p?5 E96 564:D:@?D 2C6 6G6? >@C6 DEC6DD7F= H96? J@F 92G6 E@ DE2J @? 9@=5 7@C 7@FC 9@FCD ;FDE E@ 7:?5 @FE :7 J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E E96 36?67:ED J@F 56D6CG6]k^Am kAm“(6’C6 86EE:?8 2 =@E @7 4@?E24E 7C@> 4FCC6?E 4=:6?ED 2?5 7@C>6C 4=:6?ED[ H9@ 2C6 C6249:?8 @FE E@ FD 5:DEC6DD65 3642FD6 E96J 2C6?’E C646:G:?8 E96:C 36?67:ED E9:D >@?E9[” w@==6J D2:5] “%96J DE:== ?665 E@ 62E]”k^Am Messenger: Lawsuit highlights Missouri’s failure to get food aid to people who need it Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Messenger: For the poor, a bump in Social Security means a cut in food aid. ‘Just not fair.’ Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Missouri fails when it comes to providing health care or food to poor people Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Pastor has advice for St. Louis: Learn from folks battling homelessness Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Missouri is bad at feeding poor people. SNAP cuts will make it worse. Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Tony Messenger Messenger: Food pantries in St. Louis face longer lines and rising prices Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch St. Louis Post-Dispatch metro columnist Tony Messenger thanks his readers and explains how to get in contact with him. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

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