The turkey tipoff fundraiser is a St Charles High tradition. A festive food drive, encouraging students to donate canned goods for those in need, just in time for the holidays.

But this year, the existence of such a food drive is more important than ever. With the start of a new month during a government shutdown, Americans throughout the country are unable to receive their SNAP benefits.

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, assists low income citizens in affording food. But because SNAP is a government benefit, it is affected by the government shutdown, leaving millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries.

So, without government assistance, what resources are available to those who may struggle to afford food?

Well, for students in the St. Charles School district, many resources are available through the school counseling office. The district partners with Care to Learn, an organization which helps to support the health, hunger and hygiene of students. Through contact with a counselor, families can sign up for the Backpack Program. The backpack program works with schools to support students struggling with food insecurity. Every Friday, students signed up for the program receive a backpack full of food to bring home.

But there are also plenty of charities outside of the school district dedicated to feeding those in need. Many churches run food banks and other charitable organizations, and there are several non-religious organizations to reach out to as well.

For additional resources, visit STL Food Bank or call the Operation Food Search Hunger Hotline at 314-726-5355.

FAST (Foster Adoptive Support Team) 

OASIS (Outreach Assistance Serving Individuals in St. Charles County) 636-723-0037

Powell Terrace Food Pantry 636-724-3036

St Peter’s Catholic Church 314-330-4702

Harvester Christian Food Pantry 636-928-7651

Cornerstone United Methodist Church 636-379-5334

Calvary Church Food Pantry 636-939-4343

FISH of St. Charles County 636-447-5482