SHAWANO, WI – As the region continues recovering from the effects of the federal government shutdown, Shawano–Menominee Counties Health Director Nick Mau says food assistance remains a lifeline for thousands of local residents still waiting for full FoodShare benefits to resume.
Mau says roughly 20 percent of the combined population of Shawano and Menominee counties, about 7,000 people, rely on FoodShare each month. Many of those residents are children or older adults who depend on the program to meet basic nutritional needs. “That’s one-fifth of our entire two counties not getting their benefits in November so far,” Mau said.
While the shutdown has ended, Mau says the ripple effects haven’t disappeared. Local food pantries have been critical in helping families bridge the gap during weeks of delayed benefits and uncertainty. Many pantries, including small church-based sites, have reported a significant rise in demand, with some doubling the number of families seeking help. Miles says donations have been strong, helping pantries keep up as they work to prevent food insecurity from worsening.
Organizations like SAFPARC in Shawano are also seeing an increase in food drives and community support as residents rally to help neighbors in need.
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