Local governments list resources before SNAP freeze
The Helping Center in Marble Falls is just one of many food pantries in the Highland Lakes offering a hand to those in need. That need could be even more as the federal government shutdown threatens to freeze Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. File photo
By Maci Cottingham
Like the rest of the United States, the Highland Lakes area is bracing for the impending freeze of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could happen Saturday, Nov. 1, if the federal shutdown does not end before then. Local officials are preemptively sharing a suite of food resources that can be used by those in need.
Thousands of low-income residents in Burnet and Llano counties purchase groceries with a government-issued electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card through SNAP. They could lose access to the federal program starting Saturday.
The government shutdown, caused by Congress’ failure to pass a federal funding bill before Oct. 1, is halting non-essential government programs, including SNAP. The stoppage will continue for however long it takes U.S. legislators to agree on and pass a budget.
According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, as of September 2025, Burnet County has 1,672 active SNAP users and 3,526 eligible residents. Llano County has 1,019 users and 2,011 eligible residents. Texas, as a whole, has 1.63 million users and 3.55 million eligible residents.
City of Marble Falls officials shared a Facebook post on Wednesday listing local food pantries serving Marble Falls, Kingsland, Granite Shoals, and Cottonwood Shores. The same day, Burnet County had a similar post.
“The city felt it was important to share information about food assistance options to ensure residents are aware of available community resources during the temporary absence of SNAP benefits,” City Secretary Christina McDonald told DailyTrib.com.
Below is a list of Hill Country Hunger Alliance members where residents in need can get food:
MARBLE FALLS
- Church of Christ food pantry, 711 Broadway St.—6-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Thursdays
- Church of Christ community kitchen, 1016 Broadway—last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
- First Baptist Church food pantry, 408 Avenue R—1:30-3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
- The Helping Center food pantry, 1016 Broadway—9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday as well as 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Mission Marble Falls community kitchen, 1701 Broadway—11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- St. Frederick Baptist Church community kitchen, 301 S. Avenue N—11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
BURNET
- Lakes Area Care (LACare) food pantry, 507 Buchanan Drive—2-6 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays
- Vanderveer Church of Christ community kitchen, 102 S. Vandeveer St.—4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays
GRANITE SHOALS
- Joseph’s Food Pantry, 706 N. Phillips Ranch Road—first, second, and third Tuesdays of each month at 2 p.m.
KINGSLAND
- Sharing the Harvest food pantry, 3435 RR 1431 in Kingsland—9 a.m. to noon Thursdays
BERTRAM
- Bertram Community Cupboard food pantry, 112 Grande St.—2-6 p.m. Tuesdays
COTTONWOOD SHORES
- The Cupboard food pantry, 4111 Cottonwood Drive—second Wednesday of each month from 4-7 p.m.
HOOVER’S VALLEY
- Hoover Valley Mobile Food Pantry, 303 CR 118B with a Burnet address—first Saturday of each month from 1-3 p.m.
The impending SNAP pause comes amid a general rise in food pantry use across the Highland Lakes.
The Helping Center in Marble Falls has seen an increase from 300-500 families a month in 2017 to 2,500-3,000 a month in 2024.
LACare in Burnet reported in July that demand had tripled over the past 18 months.
Sharing the Harvest saw a 62 percent increase in households served between 2022 and 2024. Volunteers have been struggling to keep up with demand in recent years.
To help meet the growing need, The Picayune Magazine and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune will host a food drive on Nov. 5 from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Marble Falls Fire Station, 700 Avenue N, and the Burnet Fire Station, 2002 U.S. 281.
Donations of food and money will benefit The Helping Center and LACare.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR SNAP AND HOW TO APPLY
SNAP eligibility in Texas depends on income, household size, and certain work or life circumstances. According to Texas Health and Human Services:
- People in low-income households are eligible.
- Most adults ages 18-54 with no children in their home can get SNAP benefits for only three months in a three-year period.
- Households in which all members are either older adults (age 60 and older) or people with disabilities are eligible to participate in the Texas Simplified Application Project, which makes the SNAP application process easier and provides three years of benefits at a time instead of six months.
Applicants must apply through Texas Health and Human Services and provide documentation of income and household composition. The state may request an interview and generally process applications within 30 days. Approved recipients receive an EBT card by mail.
SNAP benefits will resume once the federal government ends the shutdown or issues new guidance. Anyone currently enrolled in the program can access unused benefits from previous months.