05/28/2026
At Hand Up Project, we're still here-feeding the family, holding the line, and making sure our community has access to food that is dignified, affirming, and nourishing.
But we can't do it alone.
Now is the time to stay engaged, stay aware, and continue showing up for one another-because the need isn't going away.
* Join the Food Fairies
Behind every full table is someone who chose to show up.
The Food Fairies are our community in action-quietly making sure food keeps moving, even when the system falls short.
* Give what you can
* Share the message
Show up when it matters
Hand Up Project
For a while, food insecurity dominated the headlines. Now it’s gone quiet.
But on the ground—in places like The People’s Pantry—the story hasn’t improved. It’s getting harder.
Across the country, millions of people are losing or being pushed off SNAP after recent federal changes. Fewer households are receiving benefits—not because they no longer need help, but because eligibility rules have tightened and funding has shifted. And when that happens, people don’t stop needing food. They come to us.
Food banks nationwide are reporting increased demand, and we’re seeing the same locally—more first-time visitors, more households stretching limited resources, and more people relying on pantry support to fill the gap.
At the same time, the system supporting that food is under strain. Supply has dropped as federal food purchasing programs are cut back. Fuel and transportation costs continue to rise, making it more expensive to move food from farms to shelves. Even grocery prices are climbing again, meaning SNAP benefits—when they are available—don’t go as far.
And there’s another challenge just beginning to surface.
Global conflicts are disrupting fertilizer supply, which farmers rely on to grow crops. As fertilizer prices surge and
availability drops, many farmers are planting less or paying significantly more to produce the same food. The full impact of this won’t show up overnight—but it’s expected to drive future food prices higher and tighten supply even further.
In other words, the pressure is building.
The reality is simple: The food crisis didn’t end—it just slipped out of the spotlight.
At Hand Up Project, we’re still here—feeding the family, holding the line, and making sure our community has access to food that is dignified, affirming, and nourishing.
But we can’t do it alone.
Now is the time to stay engaged, stay aware, and continue showing up for one another—because the need isn’t going away.
🧚 Join the Food Fairies
Behind every full table is someone who chose to show up.
The Food Fairies are our community in action—quietly making sure food keeps moving, even when the system falls short.
✨ Give what you can
✨ Share the message
✨ Show up when it matters
Because it still takes a village to feed the family.
