Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

A group of community leaders gathered at the Stephens County Courthouse this afternoon, Monday, Oct. 27, to discuss emergency plans for helping local residents who will not be getting their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (aka “food stamps”) this month, due to the federal government shutdown.

Stephens County Emergency Management Coordinator David Leonard talks to a group of community leaders who met this afternoon, Monday, Oct. 27, to create a plan to assist local residents who may have their SNAP benefits delayed because of the federal government shutdown. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

County Judge Michael Roach, Stephens County Emergency Management coordinator David Leonard, and others representing various churches, government agencies and assistance programs met in an emergency meeting following the announcement that the Texas Department of Health and Human Services will likely not be distributing SNAP benefits in November. Although the benefits are distributed through the State of Texas (and other states), the funds for the program come from the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Roach said the information he has received from the TDHHS is that even if the government shutdown is resolved by midnight tonight, Texas still won’t be able to get the money and then distribute on the regular schedule.

The local group met for over an hour this afternoon and came up with a plan to collect donations of grocery store gift cards — or monetary donations that will be used to buy gift cards — that will be distributed to those who regularly receive SNAP benefits, which are loaded onto a debit-type card called the “Lone Star Card.”

As of August 2025, there were 550 SNAP cases in Stephens County, providing food to 1,147 people — approximately 10 percent of the county’s population. That number includes 502 children under the age of 18; 461 people age 18-59; and 184 people age 60 and older. The average amount per case (household) in Stephens County is $335 per month. The total amount of SNAP benefits distributed in Stephens County per month is $184,424.

Currently, the plan is for the grocery store gift cards to be distributed through the newly established non-profit organization Stephens County Mission for Hope. The distribution will take place at First Methodist Church, which hosts monthly and weekly food pantry distributions, along with Gunsight Baptist Church, as well as the weekly Cafe Love free lunch program. Also helping with the collection of donations will be Breckenridge’s First Baptist Church and ONE Church. Other churches may also agree to participate in the program to make sure local residents have enough food.

The initial distribution is planned to provide grocery store gift cards to current SNAP recipients from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. At this time, the exact amount each family receives has not been established, although those planning the assistance say that it likely won’t be enough for the entire month. Recipients may be able to receive additional cards later in the month, depending on the number of people in their household, their needs and the availability of donations.

More details will be available on Tuesday, Oct. 28, with a dedicated phone number for assistance, etc., Roach said.

The current plan is to use cards from United Supermarket because they can be marked so that they can only be used for the same items that SNAP benefits can be used for, which is food items, with some restrictions; for example, alcohol, tobacco, non-food items and a few other products are not allowed, Roach said. The cards are preferred so that families may purchase what they know they need for their specific needs.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to fill the $184,000 hole, but I’m just saying I think what we can do and what we should do — and this is just my opinion — is provide a meal a day,” Roach said. “We’ve done this before. … I know that’s not going to be enough, and certainly there are people, people who depend on that, they’re going to be hurting. And what we provide is not enough, however, it’s all we can do, sort of somebody writing a check 180 4000 which would be glad to take.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation of cash or grocery store gift card may do so at First Methodist, First Baptist or ONE Church. Checks should be made payable to “Stephens County Mission for Hope.”

Stephens County has several other programs to provide food to local residents who need assistance. The monthly and weekly food pantries at First Methodist Church are organized and operated by Gunsight Baptist Church, which buys the food for a fraction of the regular price from the West Central Texas Food Bank. First Methodist is used as the distribution point because of its central location, according to Brian Kight. First Baptist also has regular food distribution.

Also, Breckenridge Independent School District not only has the free lunch and breakfast programs, but the school district also has a weekend backpack program. For families who need extra food for their children over the weekend, backpacks filled with food are sent home each Thursday with the kids.

“We’re going to have a (School Health Advisory Council) meeting this evening, so I was going to kind of circle up with the council and brainstorm with them about how we, as the school district, can help not only our students, but their families in the community,” said Prairie Freeman, BISD superintendent.

Will Thompson, who was at the meeting representing the Stephens County Mission for Hope organization, said the All His Children program also helps families as needed and received several calls for assistance last week when some state and federal benefits didn’t arrive on time.

“(Another) thing I would say, the families we help, they can stretch a dollar a lot further and get the food that they need to feed their families,” Thompson said. “Something that I would use for one meal, they’ll stretch three or four meals out of it.”

Leonard said this is a time for the community to come together and help our neighbors. “I think this is a opportunity for Stephens County to make an impact and shine, going in the future,” he said. “This is what Stephens County is capable of doing. I mean all of us.”

Roach echoed that sentiment. “I feel like (this time) we’re not fighting a virus here, COVID, or some winter storm. We’re fighting hunger here,” he said about the emergency management team. “And I think … every (person) that was at that table today, they care. They’re concerned. I think you could hear that in their voices. They they know that we cannot just turn our our backs and say, ‘Well, good luck.’ … These (local SNAP recipients) aren’t all able-bodied individuals who can work and make this OK, go get a job or go pick up cans. Thankfully, we’re a giving community, and I think … neighbors will help neighbors. That’s one of the reasons we’re taking the route that we’re taking is we believe that Stephens County is a giving community, and that they’ll step up and help in time of need.”

Cutline, top photo: Community leaders, including County Judge Michael Roach, Stephens County Emergency Management coordinator David Leonard, and others representing various churches, government agencies and assistance programs, met in an emergency meeting following the announcement that the Texas Department of Health and Human Services will likely not be distributing SNAP benefits in November. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)