Mike Wolanin | The Republic Volunteers sort food at the Love Chapel Food Pantry in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
The City of Columbus and several community partners announced Wednesday that they will be providing $300,000 in emergency funding to Love Chapel, aiming to help the food pantry meet surging demand following a lapse in federal food assistance during the government shutdown.
The community partners include Cummins Inc., Centra Credit Union, Toyota Material Handling North America, Love Chapel Foundation and Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County. The emergency funding aims to ensure that Love Chapel can continue providing meals and food assistance to residents affected by the disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
More than 3,000 Bartholomew County residents have lost their SNAP benefits for at least part of November, according to local officials. The most recent data from the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services shows that 5,382 county residents — 2,735 households — received a collective $1.01 million in SNAP benefits in September.
“No one in our community should ever have to face hunger,” Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon said in a statement. “Ensuring that every resident has access to food is not just an act of compassion, but a responsibility we all share as neighbors and as a city that cares.”
Payments through SNAP lapsed on Nov. 1 after President Donald Trump’s administration initially refused to tap billions in reserve funds Congress had designated for the program in the event of funding emergencies.
The administration later agreed to make partial payments of food assistance this month following court orders to do so and is currently fighting an appellate court order requiring the full payment. Indiana officials said they expected SNAP recipients to receive partial payment as early as Tuesday.
Since the SNAP payments have lapsed, Love Chapel in Columbus has seen unprecedented demand for food so far this month.
“It is heartwarming to see the outpouring of love and care for our most vulnerable citizens,” Love Chapel Executive Director Kelly Daugherty said in a statement.
As of Monday, a total of 800 families have turned to Love Chapel for help with food this month — putting the food pantry on pace to serve a record 2,700 families this month, Daugherty told The Republic on Monday.
By comparison, the previous record for most families served in month was 1,698.
On Monday, the Senate voted 60-40 on legislation that would reopen the government and bring the longest shutdown in history to a close. The House is expected to vote on the measure on Wednesday. If it clears the House, the bill would go to Trump’s desk for his signature.
Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.”
