When KC Neufeld shared on her Denver neighborhood’s Facebook group that her family would be handing out ramen noodles and boxes of macaroni and cheese alongside candy this Halloween, she didn’t anticipate much reaction.
As a mother of twin 4-year-olds, Neufeld aimed to make a modest impact in her working-class community, especially since food aid for millions of vulnerable Americans was set to end on Friday due to the government shutdown.
Within just 48 hours, Neufeld’s post had nearly 3,000 reactions, with many expressing gratitude and some pledging to do the same.
“I never expected this post to gain such traction, and I’m completely unprepared,” admitted Neufeld, 33, noting that despite exceeding her weekly grocery budget, she’s returning to the store for more supplies.
“I wish I could clear out this Costco aisle,” she remarked. “I can’t afford that, but I’ll contribute what I can.”
Neufeld is among numerous individuals nationwide gearing up to distribute non-perishable food items to trick-or-treaters this year, aiming to mitigate the impact of impending reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which aids roughly one in eight Americans in purchasing groceries.
A flurry of widely shared posts have popped up over the last several days as many people look for ways to help offset the surge in need. Some posts suggest foods to give out while others show recently acquired stocks of cheese sticks, mini cereals, canned soup or even diapers ready for trick-or-treaters.
Posts are often followed by a string of comments from people announcing similar plans, along with plenty of reminders not to forget the candy.
Emily Archambault, 29, and her sister-in-law Taylor Martin, 29, in La Porte, Indiana, will be putting out pasta and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, cereal and other foods, along with diapers and wipes on Halloween. They’re also collecting donations from members of their church.
Their plan is to set everything out on a table away from where they’re giving out candy, so families can take what they need without worrying about judgement.
“It kind of takes a little bit of pressure off of the parents,” said Martin. “You’re out and about trick or treating and it’s there and your kids probably won’t even notice you’re taking it.”
Archambault said she relied on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, after her son’s medical complications forced her to stop working temporarily. Losing that assistance would have meant turning to food pantries. And while she said there are great ones in her area, she expects them to be overrun.
“We have to band together,” she said. “I am grateful to have received benefits, and I am even more grateful to be able to give back now.”
Erika Dutka, who depends on SNAP to feed herself and her three children in Archbald, Pennsylvania, went to a “trunk or treat” Sunday with people giving out candy from the trunks of cars. She said she was relieved to get packs of ramen, oatmeal, juice, pretzels and fruit snacks in addition to sweet treats.
The 36-year-old — who works two jobs and goes to school fulltime — said the food means she’ll have plenty of school snacks for her children the rest of the week and can save her last $100 of SNAP funds.
“It buys me more time,” she said. “Maybe things will change. Maybe it’ll get turned back on.”
Neufeld, the Denver mom stock-piling shelf-stable items for trick-or-treaters, said she relied on a food bank at her college to get through school. She said most people would never have known she was really struggling. And now, with SNAP drying up, she wants people to remember not to assume anything about others.
“You truly don’t know what other people are going through,” she said. “So even if they don’t ‘look like they need help,’ it’s still important to just give when you can because it can make a huge difference.”
