Blanchet House in Portland is seeing record demand for free food as SNAP benefit delays and rising food costs push more people to seek help.
By Julie Showers
On Nov. 3, 2025, at 6:30 a.m., Emily Coleman, Programs Director at Blanchet House, was shocked to see the line for a free breakfast longer than usual. It wrapped around and down the block as people waited in the cold and drizzle for a simple meal and a cup of coffee. Several said it was their first time seeking help because their SNAP benefits had not been deposited due to the federal delay.
Right now, we are witnessing one of the most challenging moments for hunger relief in recent memory. The federal delay in SNAP benefits, combined with persistent inflation, rising food costs, and tightened eligibility for aid programs, is creating a level of need we have not seen in years.
Staff are faced with the painful decision to turn people away after the dining room has been at full capacity for over an hour.
“No seconds is now the norm and a new norm: having to cut the line off early,” said James Smith, a cafe coordinator.
The long line for a free breakfast at Blanchet House in downtown Portland wrapped around the building at 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2025. Photo by Emily Coleman.
A Growing Line and a Growing Responsibility
Our café typically serves 250-350 plates in a single hour, but this week we reached new highs and learned the painful limits of how many plates we can feasibly serve. At one dinner this week, 594 plates of spaghetti were served, nearly 10 plates per minute, run to tables by volunteers. That number isn’t just plates; it represents our neighbors who are out of options due to missed benefits and shrinking budgets.
And we are seeing new faces every day. Families and individuals who haven’t needed to seek help before are coming to wait in line. Increasingly, we’re not only serving people who are unhoused but also the working poor, people who have homes or jobs yet still can’t afford groceries.
For example, M. waited in line before heading to work, grateful for breakfast and a second helping of pastries to take for lunch. Many people like him are employed but struggling to make ends meet, relying on Blanchet House for the stability of a hot meal.
At the same time, we’re experiencing a sharp drop in donated food from wholesalers, grocery stores, and restaurants. Inflation is affecting everyone, and our supply lines are no exception. We’re now purchasing more groceries than ever before to meet the growing demand.
People dine in Blanchet House’s cafe.
Making Space for More People
To welcome as many guests as possible, we’re reorganizing our dining space and adding more tables and chairs for the first time since we opened our new building in 2012. It’s one more way we’re adapting to serve a growing community in need. Even with these efforts, staff are still faced with painful decisions.
Once the dining room stays at full capacity for more than an hour, we must cut off the line. And seconds, once a steady comfort, are now rarely possible.
“Busy first day of the month. We had to cut off the line and could not call seconds,” said Carla Magana, a cafe coordinator at Blanchet House. “Folks are really feeling the shock of no SNAP. We did get some peanut butter sandwiches later, so I passed them to those who missed dinner. I hope we can keep finding ways to meet people where they are. I’m grateful we’re adding tables to the café.”
This is what we’re experiencing, even before thousands more lose access to benefits. The weight of feeding everyone is real, and it grows heavier each day.
What You Can Do
Your support makes a direct and immediate impact. It helps us purchase food, staff our kitchen and café safely, and add seating so more people can eat inside with dignity. It allows us to respond to this rising need without turning people away.
We are grateful to those who have already given. If you are able, please consider supporting our efforts through our Give!Guide fundraiser or at BlanchetHouse.org/Donate. Every contribution matters during this difficult time.
Thank you for caring about people who have nowhere else to turn for a meal.
