Labor Advocacy Group Launches Emergency Fund for Service Workers Losing SNAP Benefits

As the government shutdown stretches into its second month, roughly 42 million low-income Americans face the loss of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits — a lifeline many depend on to buy food during the holiday season. In response, several human rights and labor organizations are stepping up to help.

On Nov. 4, labor advocacy group One Fair Wage (OFW) announced the creation of the Service Workers SNAP Emergency Fund, a relief initiative designed to support restaurant and service industry employees — many of whom rely on SNAP, commonly referred to as “food stamps.”

The fund provides direct cash assistance to cover essentials like groceries and household goods, connects workers with local food resources, and offers tools to advocate for higher wages in their workplaces.

“The people who feed us can’t afford to feed themselves,” said Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage. “This isn’t just a story about food assistance — it’s a story about poverty wages.”

According to OFW, service and restaurant workers can apply for help through an online form, after which organizers will verify eligibility and distribute aid. The group emphasized that it will also work with immigrant and undocumented workers, ensuring all personal information remains strictly confidential.

While local relief efforts and donations offer much-needed support, Jayaraman noted that the crisis reveals deeper economic inequalities that predate the current shutdown. “This shutdown has exposed what’s been true all along,” she said. “People are working — often in restaurants or service jobs — but wages are too low to live on. The solution isn’t half benefits or temporary fixes; it’s living wages.”

Those wishing to support the fund can make tax-deductible donations directly through OFW, with contributions going straight to affected workers. The organization is also encouraging volunteers and social media users to spread awareness to reach as many eligible workers as possible.

The ongoing shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is now the second-longest in U.S. history. At the heart of the dispute is the Affordable Care Act: Democrats seek to extend ACA tax credits to prevent steep increases in healthcare premiums, while Republicans insist negotiations can wait until after the government reopens.

Following the shutdown announcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program, posted a notice on its website stating that federal funds for food assistance programs have “run dry” and benefits would not be issued on Nov. 1.