More SNAP Changes, More Hungry Bellies

In just a few short days, our guests are facing yet another SNAP change.

Effective February 1, 2026, SNAP recipients aged 18-64 (without a disability or a dependent under age 14) will have to meet work requirements should they need to use SNAP benefits beyond three months.

Why the change? Just another side effect of the Big, Not-So-Beautiful Bill, which cut nearly $200 billion in SNAP funding—the largest in the program’s history.

There’s no way around it: This will be devastating to the most vulnerable in our country. Our friends at Northern Illinois Food Bank estimate that “roughly 75,000 SNAP recipients in our 13-county service area are at risk of losing benefits in May, once they have exhausted their three months of eligibility.”

“Roughly 75,000 SNAP recipients in our 13-county service area are at risk of losing benefits in May, once they have exhausted their three months of eligibility.”

— Northern Illinois Food Bank

And once that happens?

Those hungry bellies will turn to their local food pantries, like Food for Greater Elgin. We’ll do everything we can to meet those needs—we served roughly 150,000 individuals in 2025—but we are simply not equipped to replace SNAP. Our pantry is serving up more meals than ever, and we will continue to welcome guests to shop our shelves until they run empty.

Thanks to the generous support of our community, we have never run out of food. We have faith in Elgin, and in all of you, that we never will.