It’s been just a week since SNAP benefits were suspended, and the impact on the most vulnerable New Yorkers is already being strongly felt across the city and state. More than three million people depended on this federal support to feed their families. Today, these same families face painful and, in many cases, unthinkable decisions: pay rent or buy food? Medicine or a bag of rice? This sudden suspension not only threatens to worsen food insecurity, but also exposes the fragility of the social protection system on which so many communities depend.
Amid this growing uncertainty, Catholic Charities of New York has reacted with speed, compassion, and unwavering commitment. Last week, during a visit to the newly renovated St. Luke’s Catholic Church in the South Bronx, I witnessed how the expanded space has allowed it to serve a greater number of neighbors in need. What was once a small pantry now operates as one of the most active food distribution centers, capable of responding to a volume of need that increases every day.
But St. Luke’s is not the only point of support. Catholic Charities has organized pop-up distributions at St. Philip Neri and St. Simon Stock–St. Joseph, providing food to hundreds of families per week. At each site, lines start early. Mothers with small children, older people, workers with rotating shifts: all with the same objective, accessing what is essential to survive. The suspension of SNAP has been a strong blow and, as the days go by, demand is growing alarmingly.
Community organizations can ease the pain, but they cannot replace a benefits system that supports millions. Even so, their work is vital. Catholic Charities continues to operate pantries, soup kitchens, and home food deliveries for seniors and the homebound. Its volunteers and social workers are preparing to respond to a wave of need that they estimate could intensify if the suspension is prolonged.
Meanwhile, in the affected homes, anguish is mixed with uncertainty. No one knows how long the disruption will last. What is known is that every day without SNAP deepens the food gap that already existed in many New York neighborhoods. Dining rooms and pantries offer relief, but the pressure on these networks also increases. The risk of the crisis turning into a larger-scale emergency is real.
At this critical juncture, the call for solidarity is urgent. History shows that the strongest communities are those that come together in the most difficult times. And today, more than ever, collective support can make the difference between hunger and hope.
Catholic Charities has reaffirmed its commitment: no New Yorker will be left behind. But this mission requires everyone’s support. In times of uncertainty, compassion is our most powerful resource and shared responsibility is our best tool to build a more just future.
J. Antonio Fernández, president, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York