Scott County food-relief organizations launched a unified landing page on food-insecurity resources as a potential end to supplemental food programs looms.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. Benefits for November are under threat after Republican President Donald Trump said he would end payments for the program that serves 1 in 8 Americans, mostly families with children.
Trump said he would not use emergency funds in the midst of one of the longest federal government shutdowns in history, blaming Democrats for the stalemate in Washington despite Republicans controlling all chambers of government. A pair of federal district judges on Friday ordered Trump to continue making payments to the program, though the president has defied court orders before and indicated he may not do so Friday night.
In Scott County, an estimated 5,700 residents would lose benefits if SNAP goes unfunded. Nearly 75% of those affected are considered vulnerable: children, the elderly and disabled folks.
More than 2,000 are children. In Prior Lake alone, more than 400 families receive SNAP food benefits.
In response, Scott County organizations created a landing page for people to donate to or sign up to volunteer for any of the five food shelves in the county. Scott County officials sent the information out Thursday afternoon, adding changes to the page may come in the next few days, though the link will remain the same.
Scott County administrator Lezlie Vermillion said in a statement Friday to the Prior Lake News Compass the county appreciated service organizations stepping up to fill needs during the political fiasco.
“Times of crisis require the entire community to come forward, and we are committed to working with everyone in serving Scott County,” Vermillion said.
Prior Lake Mayor Kirt Briggs urged residents to donate to organizations such as the Community Action Partnership Agency (CAP).
“If there ever was a time to step forward and offer help in your community, that time has arrived,” Briggs said.
A group of more than 60 people representing faith communities, local governments, schools, and various food shelf services and their donors met Wednesday to discuss and brainstorm ideas to take actions during the suspension of the SNAP program.
Some of the organizations present included:
- Jeff Hansen from the CAP Agency said the number of families in Scott, Carver and Dakota counties served by CAP increased by 12%. In 2024, CAP supported 14,917 families in Scott County. The agency partners with Second Harvest Heartland, and cash donations to CAP result in $6 worth of food for every $1 donated.
- Families and Individuals Sharing Hope (FISH), a coalition of local government and education entities, faith and service organizations, nonprofits and businesses which serve Scott County residents, operates as a network of organizations, whereby registered partners can post needs, respond to needs and post events.
- Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake said the congregation is ready to sponsor local families.
- Other congregations said they will be organizing and distributing donated grocery gift cards.
- Mi CASA, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating youth leadership, fostering inclusion and advocating for racial equity, said they will make and distribute emergency food bags.
More community churches and groups throughout the county are also participating.
