As delayed SNAP benefits strained local food shelves during the federal government shutdown, Oles mobilized to support the Community Action Center (CAC) of Northfield — a nonprofit that provides food access, housing assistance, and other basic-needs services — through campuswide food and meal-swipe drives.

In response to growing concerns about food insecurity in the community, the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Local Impact Board hosted a food drive from Nov. 13 to Dec. 3, with donation boxes in each residence hall. SGA also partnered with Bon Appétit from Nov. 17 to 20 to collect meal swipes from students that would go unused over Thanksgiving break.

The federal government reopened on Nov. 12, 2025, when President Donald Trump signed a bill funding operations until Jan. 30 of next year. Benefits like SNAP will be funded through September 2026. However, even though the shutdown has ended, Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families said on its website that SNAP benefit distribution was delayed in November, and the heightened need for food has strained local food shelves.

SGA’s Local Impact Board sought to help meet the increased need. In an interview with The Olaf Messenger, Local Impact Board Secretary Lily Spoerke ’27 said, “Especially at this time of year with Thanksgiving, families with SNAP benefits already don’t have as much for a Thanksgiving meal, so this would help pick up some of the slack that was already there, in addition to what they lost in the month of October and part of November, to ensure that everything is going as smoothly as it can.”

The Local Impact Board’s food drive offered an easy and low-cost way for students to support CAC while engaging in a bit of friendly competition. The residence hall that collects the most donated goods will receive a pizza party sponsored by the board.

For the Bon Appétit partnership, members of SGA tabled to collect meal swipes. Students could scan their IDs at the table or fill out a simple Google Form sent out in the weekly Ole the Lion email. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Junior Class Representative Marea Nielsen ’27 encouraged passing students to swipe their IDs and donate. Students were more than willing to participate, especially once they realized the meal swipe came from Thanksgiving week, when most would be home.

SGA collected 1,114 meal swipes from students and will donate $2,785 to CAC, marking the Donate-a-Meal-Swipe event as a success.