TCA in the News

BY Seth Voorhees Rochester
PUBLISHED 6:16 PM ET Oct. 20, 2025

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Millions of Americans are at risk of losing food assistance in November, as the federal shutdown drags into another week. The Trump administration claims there’s not enough money to pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Republicans blame Democrats for the situation, while the left says it’s all the president’s fault.

Advocates for those in need say low-income families will suffer most unless something happens — quick.

St. Peter’s Kitchen in Rochester serves hot meals to 400 people a day on average. It’s a number that’s doubled in the past year and staff worry it’s about to get worse.

“Most of these folks who come here, they’re not homeless,” said Bob Boyd, CEO of St. Peter’s Kitchen. “They have a house, but they’re seniors. They worked their whole lives. These are people who were in their 70s who are trying to get by on a little money and they rely on organizations like ours to get through that.”

That includes people like Cassandra Robinson. She comes to the kitchen almost every day, picking up a delivery of meals to help feed her five grandchildren, who she has custody of.

“We are a fixed income,” said Robinson. “And because of my Social Security, I get very little in food stamps.”

The meals are prepared each morning for people living in one of Rochester’s poorest neighborhoods. Most of the people fed there receive SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. After already cutting billions of dollars from the program over the summer, the Trump administration said there’s not enough money to pay SNAP benefits in November because of the government shutdown.

“I’m really concerned,” said Robinson. “I’m worried for myself, my household and a lot of my family and friends and their households. There’s going to be a lot of hungry people out there.”

The issue is causing a lot of back and forth and finger-pointing in Washington, D.C. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted on X last week saying Democrats are “putting their political agenda ahead of food security for American families” amid the ongoing shutdown. Meanwhile, Democrats argue Republicans are at fault and not willing to negotiate a spending deal.

“What the government is doing by targeting this country’s most vulnerable like children is absolutely despicable,” said Isabel Rosa, of The Children’s Agenda, a group fighting to improve the health, education and success of children through advocacy.

Several groups, including representatives from VOCAL-NY, are advocating for people who rely on assistance in paying for their groceries, demanding the Trump administration reverse the cuts to SNAP and restore the Household Food Security report, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped the survey which tracks food insecurity.

“We stand here to say, ‘we see what’s going on,’” said Larry Marx, CEO at The Children’s Agenda. “We’re not dumb and we will not be silent.”

The cost of groceries remains high, and Boyd says there’s less inexpensive or free food available to places like the kitchen.

“We’re at a time where supplies and other sources of food are diminishing,” he said.

Those who feed those in need say people are struggling. They fear it’s going to get much worse.

“You want to make America great? You can’t starve us,” said Robinson. “Can’t starve the children.”

Original story here: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/news/2025/10/20/hunger-snap-food-insecurity-