City of Evansville has a plan should SNAP be cancelled — 'we're prepared to go until it stops'

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published October 31, 2025 at 6:54 PM CDT

Feed Evansville Director Lisa Vaughan said they'll concentrate efforts in SNAP-heavy neighborhoods. "Then we're going to reach out to the pantries of those zip codes and the other food programming, and we're going to elevate what they're doing and helping them with the resources they need," she said. At this news conference, Vaughan shared what Feed Evansville would do for residents should SNAP benefits end Nov. 1.

Mayor’s Office, Feed Evansville announce ‘Readiness Plan’ to support residents whose SNAP benefits may be interrupted during the government shutdown; federal judges have ordered SNAP be funded in Friday Oct. 31 announcement

On Friday Oct. 31, volunteers in the Community Kitchen of the CK Newsome Center in Evansville prepare pasta salad for the Longest Table event on Sunday, Nov. 2. Volunteers are Kamie Richardson (center) with April McLin (left) and Jenny Thomas. — On Friday Oct. 31, volunteers in the Community Kitchen of the CK Newsome Center in Evansville prepare pasta salad for the Longest Table event on Sunday, Nov. 2. Volunteers are Kamie Richardson (center) with April McLin (left) and Julia Van Wormer.

Inside the Community Kitchen of the CK Newsome Center in Evansville, there’s the hustle of food prep for the Longest Table Dinner this weekend.

Volunteers make salads and package them, near where an important part of the city Readiness Plan will be located — the low-cost “grocery store” they plan to open November 8.

“They will be able to pick what their family needs and what their family wants,” Feed Evansville Director Lisa Vaughan said.

There are a few major parts to the Readiness Plan, announced at a news conference Friday, Oct. 31. This was in response to SNAP benefits not being renewed in November, meaning SNAP cards would not receive new funds starting Saturday, Nov. 1.

According to the city, Vanderburgh County alone receives $3.7 million for SNAP benefits monthly for the 9,500 households. This was set to end, per the Trump administration as part of the current government shut down.

The first major part of the Readiness plan is a master list of places residents in need can find food, and where supplies and volunteers are needed. Again, there will also be a sliding fee scale grocery store located at the CK Newsome Center.

Vaughan said they’ll also direct resources to the neighborhoods most in need.

“We're prepared to go until it stops, just like COVID. We thought maybe two weeks, and we went for two years,” she said. “So we're going to just keep going and going and going until the need isn't here anymore.”

Overall this is a cooperation between the city and non-profit organization Feed Evansville with the Commission on Food Security.

The City of Evansville will request $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) interest funds to support the efforts of Feed Evansville.

Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry said they are also asking the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) to temporarily suspend any shut off notices or late fees.

"We're trying to relieve as much burden as possible, as we understand that people will be under tremendous financial strain,” Terry said.

Feed Evansville is also looking for volunteers. More on the Feed Evansville website.

On Friday October 31, federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must figure out how to fund SNAP benefits.

The city said it would be ‘digesting’ this news. WNIN will update this story if needed.

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