SNAP Updates

  • Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has informed the State of Colorado that November 2025 SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are being held.

    All current recipients of SNAP benefits will receive an official letter from the Colorado Department of Human Services announcing the hold in the coming days. This hold affects all SNAP recipients statewide and is not a Gunnison County decision.

    Gunnison County administers an average of approximately $218,000 in monthly SNAP benefits to about 695 households, representing more than 1,090 individuals in the community. The County recognizes how important these benefits are for local families and is closely monitoring the situation.

What we are doing

Expanded Backyard Harvest Program: We’re adding 50 new families to our weekly fresh-food box list to absorb the overflow, so if you or someone you know needs this extra assistance please visit the link below.

Holiday Meal Boxes: On Thanksgiving week, we plan to distribute 200 double-sized boxes that include all the fixings for a traditional dinner. We’ll do this again for the Christmas holidays.

Saturday Fresh Produce Distribution: The Gunnison Country Food Pantry is extending weekday hours and opening a new Saturday distribution. Mountain Roots is committed to supporting this expansion and will provide about 800 pounds of fresh food per week.

Mobilizing valley-wide efforts: Mountain Roots, in collaboration with other key food security partners like Gunnison Country Food Pantry is looking for new ways to fund weekly food boxes like Backyard Harvest, additional holiday meals, and positioning to support new families navigating the loss of SNAP assistance.