Local works of mercy continue amid government chaos

At the former St. Edward parish in Greater Rosemont, one of four food-distribution centers for the needy operated by Catholic Charities of Baltimore, the impact of the Trump administration’s cutoff of  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits was seen immediately.

“At St. Edward’s, we usually see around 110 people over an hour to 1 ½ hours of distribution,” Kevin Creamer, program director of the Intergenerational Center operated by Catholic Charities, told the Catholic Review. “We saw 110 come through in 20 minutes on Nov. 4.”

SNAP benefits, similar to Social Security payments, are not all paid out at the beginning of a month, but on a rolling basis determined by last name, just as Social Security payments are determined by birth date.

Creamer said Nov. 4 was the first day someone expecting November benefits did not receive them, so it was likely an effort to stock up ahead of when the benefits gap was experienced. Because of the way benefits are paid, “the impact will be felt by more people as the month goes on. The (Catholic Charities) food bank is now covering 100 percent of costs for network partners, so our capacity to increase food volume will be higher to meet higher need.”

Responses in Baltimore alone mirror how charities nationwide have been coping with the Trump administration’s cutoff of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown.

The chaos remains. On Nov. 3, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced the release of $62 million from the state Fiscal Responsibility Fund to ensure full November SNAP benefits in Maryland. But on Nov. 11, the Supreme Court extended its hold on a federal court order that would have forced the administration to pay out SNAP payments in full for November as the end of the government shutdown looms.

SNAP feeds more than 680,000 monthly in Maryland, including nearly 270,000 children.

Area Catholic nutrition operations have had to tune out the political chaos in order to focus on how to meet immediate needs.

Ashley Volis, chief operating officer of Catholic Charities of Baltimore since 2022, said it’s difficult to keep up with the whipsawing out of Washington. “I am watching the news and find out with everyone else what the state of play is.”

The uncertainty, she observed, is not recent. “It’s been chaotic like this since Jan. 20 (Inauguration Day).”

“Whether the government is open or not, they’re still making it harder for citizens to get SNAP benefits. Very unnecessary, is all I can say.”

Catholic Charities works with the Maryland Food Bank, since it “purchases food for their network at a lower price than food pantries,” she explained. “They can buy in bulk – much cheaper than anyone else.”

Catholic Charities supplies food banks in Baltimore at St. Peter Claver in West Baltimore, the former parishes of St. Cecilia and St. Gregory the Great (also in West Baltimore), as well as locations in Garrett County, Oakland and Grantsville.

Mary Helfrich, chief advancement officer of St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore, said the charity had been able to anticipate the SNAP cutoff and plan to hand out bags of food – something it’s never done.

St. Vincent de Paul’s Beans and Bread program in Fells Point serves meals to an average 200 adults a day, and also 454 daily suppers through its social enterprise, God’s Harvest Community Kitchen.

But it “does not do pantries,” Helfrich said. So the organization checked in with parishes that distribute food, and also made a public appeal. “People were very generous, and we were able to hand out dozens of bags.” There was also what she called “a significant gift” from a donor.

There was a sufficient quantity so they were able to modify the bags if someone didn’t have a stove. “Peanut butter and bread, stuff like that.”

Helfrich, mentioning those served by the Head Start program, noted that SNAP benefits seldom cover families for an entire month.

“If they get SNAP, they can cover themselves a little bit,” she said. “By the third week of the month, we start to see more people. By the fourth week, many more are eating with us.”

And the image of the working poor, at least in East Baltimore, defies stereotypes as well. 

“We see people coming in in uniforms,” she explained. “Target uniforms, landscaping crew uniforms. It’s not just folks whose SNAP has been cut. We’re seeing across the board people who are in need.”

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