Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, November SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits will likely not be available starting on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at midnight (Freking & Jalonick, 2025).
Nearly 2 million Illinoisans and 42 million Americans depend on SNAP to buy groceries.
Even though benefits from October can still be used if you have a remaining balance, the lapse in funding could put many students and families at risk of going hungry. Check snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov for updates from the Illinois Department of Human Services about the status of the shutdown's impact on SNAP and where to find food in Illinois. Governor Pritzker has allocated $20 million to support food banks in Illinois likely to see an uptick in use during this time (WICS, 2025).
Find Food Near You
Call 211 or visit 211.org to find food banks, pantries, and meal programs wherever you are - on campus, at home, or anywhere in the United States. Share this resource with your family and friends who may be struggling to afford food during the SNAP disruption.
Find Food IL Map
As we discussed in our September webinar, Save Money on Food, you can search for pantries, food banks, and meal sites across Illinois using the Find Food IL Map at go.illinois.edu/findfoodil. There is even a feature to filter by type of food resource.
At or Around Your University
Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Office of the Dean of Students lists many Food Resources both on and off campus, including the Food Assistance and Wellbeing Program in Campus Recreation on the ground floor of ARC.
The LIT is also offering free meals for SNAP card holders (show your EBT card). Details on Instagram.
Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago offers the UIC Pop-Up Pantry through the UIC Wellness Center and UI Care Meals, which provides 5-10 meals to students in need (students can apply multiple times throughout the semester; open to students without meal plans).
Dean of Students also maintains a comprehensive list of Emergency Resources for Basic Needs including food and housing assistance on and off campus. Review the UIC Campus Announcement from October 30, 2025, for more info.
Springfield
University of Illinois Springfield offers UIS CARES, which includes a food pantry and school supply shop.
Quick Tips to Stretch Your Grocery Budget
- Buy store brands instead of name brands
- Choose frozen vegetables (less expensive than fresh)
- Compare unit prices, not package prices
- Plan meals with what you already have
You're Not Alone
Food insecurity affects as much as 19% of undergraduate students and 13% of graduate students across the University of Illinois System. Seeking help is not weakness - these resources exist specifically to support you.
How to Help
If you are able to support others during this time, monetary donations have the biggest impact. Food pantries have limited physical space, and cash donations allow them to:
- Purchase food in bulk at reduced prices
- Buy what's needed most
- Stretch every dollar further than individuals can
You can use the Find Food IL map above or visit individual food pantry websites near you to find donation information. And, just like saving towards a goal, small amounts add up.
More Ways to Save Money on Food
We discussed several other methods of stretching your food budget in Save Money on Food which is on YouTube and embedded below.
References
Freking, K., & Jalonick, M. C. (2025, October 29). Food aid at risk of expiring as effort to fund SNAP benefits fails in Senate. AP News.
WICS. (2025, October 30). Gov. Pritzker allocates $20M to counter SNAP cuts in Illinois. News Channel 20.
