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Millions of Americans are dealing with significant uncertainty around access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as the government shutdown extends into its second month, as the presidential administration of the amount people normally receive this month.

That limited access will likely have far-reaching ramifications. According to NPR, about 1 in 8 U.S. residents get an average of $187 per month in SNAP funds. Nearly 39% of those recipients are children and adolescents under 18, according to the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

UNH is doing what it can to help those in need as they navigate these challenges on campus and in neighboring and state communities. On campus, the Cat鈥檚 Cupboard 鈥撎齛 food pantry that helps alleviate food insecurity for the UNH community by providing supplemental, direct access to free food 鈥� continues to serve the university community, having already welcomed 799 visitors and provided more than 6,890 pounds of food since the school year began. Hours at the Cat's Cupboard are 4 to 7 p.m, Monday through Friday,听in MUB 140.听 Additionally, the Basic Needs Support allows students, faculty, and staff to donate dining hall meal swipes to students who need them.

The UNH human resources team is also pitching in, coordinating a food drive through Nov. 21 to benefit both Gather and the Cat's Cupboard. There are drop-off locations at 2 Leavitt Lane and the lower level of Nesmith Hall, and team members Jessica Stelle and Lisa Winters will be handling the delivery at both locations.

UNH Manchester is home to it's own food pantry, , located in Room 290 on the Manchester campus.听It is available to all UNH Manchester students, and appointments are not required, though听walk-in hours vary by semester and are posted on a flyer on the door of Room 290.

Meanwhile, UNH Cooperative Extension is helping to oversee and coordinate the , trying to bring food pantries together to better serve that area, which ranges from the Lakes Region to towns like Wolfeboro to ski areas like North Conway and beyond.

Beyond UNH, there are local coming together to help, as well, including .听

We checked in with Patty Mathison, basic needs coordinator and case manager at UNH, and Joy Gagnon, nutrition connections teacher with UNH Extension, to find out how their organizations are making a difference and what community members can do to help neighbors in need.

What work is being done in your area to help those in need during these challenges?

Patty Mathison: The Cat鈥檚 Cupboard serves all students, faculty, and staff and we have both perishable and non-perishable items including toiletries, cleaning, and kitchen supplies. About 80% of the food comes from the and the rest comes from donations and from , who provide ready to heat repurposed meals from food that would otherwise go to waste. We have been providing resources and information about additional food resources in New Hampshire, such as the NH Food Bank and the UNH Extension . We just received a very large donation from COLSA of more than 1,200 pounds of food and toiletries as well as a large donation from the Trash 2 Treasure program with kitchen supplies and microwaves. We are able to provide both frozen and refrigerated items.

We also offer the , where students can request and receive meal swipes to use in the dining halls or as a meal to go. This can be helpful to allow students to choose items that are more in line with their dietary needs.

We have been working with a number of community members who have been organizing food drives, and that has been incredibly helpful for our community. We鈥檝e been working to share information on our Instagram page to share updates whenever possible.

Joy Gagnon: 听The Carroll County Food Access Network held an emergency meeting last Monday to call together concerned members, food pantries, and state leaders to assess the situation and come up with a strategy to assist the SNAP and WIC recipients and support food pantries. After being apprised of the situation by the NH Food Bank and DHHS we discussed local solutions and agreed to move forward with creating messaging and direction for the community. We created a one-pager with current information and links to resources. The recommendation to the community overall is to have SNAP and WIC individuals utilize their local food pantry, congregate meals, and Meals on Wheels. We also encouraged those who wanted to help to donate funds to the food pantry or food program of their choice including youth and senior programs.

What are some things members of the community can do to help those in need during these times?

Gagnon: We encourage everyone to donate to local food drives or the food program of their choice.听

Mathison: There are so many ways to get involved. You can donate funds, like making a financial gift to a local food bank or food pantry. Because food banks can purchase meals at wholesale the dollar can be stretched much further. Meaning that when you donate a dollar, you are able to put more meals on the tables of families than if you donated food you purchased at a store. You can also donate food or organize a good drive. Our colleagues at the also have a food pantry and continue to see high demand as well. We encourage folks to ask food pantries what they need prior to donating to ensure the needs are helpful. Items such as spices, oil, sugar and flour are rarely donated but highly needed and requested. We have an , as well as a "how to help" resource page. (UNH Manchester's Wildcat Cupboard also has an available.)

Members of the UNH community can also donate meal swipes to the Swipe it Forward program through the Campus Services (ID office) in the MUB 211. Students may donate up to 15 swipes per year. And lastly, people can volunteer and educate themselves and others. I am really moved by the incredible response from folks across the country opening up their own little pantries, paying for school lunches or student debt or volunteering with their local pantries. We encourage folks to to help make meals that will go to pantries across New Hampshire.

How important is community involvement during difficult situations like this, in your opinion?

Gagnon: In situations like this, community support is crucial. In this specific case, federal and state dollars are unavailable or limited, and the only way to support people in need is by others in the community stepping up and offering to help. Many people were offering to help by making lasagna, packing boxes of food, delivering nonperishable food to preschools. The community wants to help others and the best way they can do that right now is to donate money directly to food pantries, senior centers, and other programs.听The Carroll County Food Access Network听created a听听available to everyone online. We used this to share where people can go for help or go to offer help.

Mathison: We rely on our community to help us keep our shelves stocked, to make sure that students have funds in emergencies that can help them stay in school and continue their education, and we rely on our community to make sure that folks feel valued and seen. There is a real stigma around asking for help and the majority of people I meet are worried about taking resources away from someone who needs it more. A lack of basic needs is a systemic issue and not an individual one. Knowing that there are people who care, who are willing to contribute, and who recognize just how hard it is to be poor in this country can have a significant impact and allow folks to feel less alone.