With the ongoing federal government shutdown showing no sign of ending soon, the Cache Community Food Pantry is bracing for a sharp increase in families needing assistance — and is urging residents to step forward with donations.
The pantry, which serves hundreds of families across Cache Valley, says the prolonged shutdown has already started affecting local households.
“I knew it wouldn’t happen immediately, but last week, I had the first family come in saying they didn’t have a paycheck,” said Matthew Whitaker, executive director of the Cache Community Food Pantry. “Since then, a few more have followed. The longer this continues, the more families we’ll see. If it goes beyond November 1, food stamps might stop, and that’s when things could get really difficult.”
Whitaker, who has worked with the pantry for over two decades, says the rising cost of living and job insecurity are driving more people to seek help — including many who never imagined they would need it.
“We’re seeing a growing number of working families and even middle-class households struggling to make ends meet,” he said. “It’s not just those without jobs anymore — it’s families who are employed but still can’t stretch their income far enough.”
Among the visitors this week was Santiago and his wife, who came to the pantry for the first time to pick up milk, produce, snacks for their kids, and protein staples.
“Financially, it’s tough right now,” Santiago shared. “Bills keep piling up, and prices on everything are going up. The pantry has been a big help. Even a little bit makes a huge difference for us.”
The pantry is especially vital for families who don’t qualify for federal SNAP benefits but still need food support. If the shutdown continues, more of those households may soon rely on local food pantries to get through.
Whitaker says community support will be critical in the coming weeks. “If you can afford to donate, even small amounts help,” he said. “During case lot sales, grab an extra case of food and bring it by. We’re especially asking for Thanksgiving-related items right now.”
Residents can also contribute financially through the pantry’s official website at cachefood.org/donate. Every dollar, Whitaker said, helps fill plates for local families.
“You might think your five dollars won’t make a difference,” he added, “but when hundreds of people give that much, it adds up fast — and it feeds a lot of people.”
