In the Pittsburgh community of Whitehall, one dad and his two sons are filling the gaps as food assistance struggles amid the government shutdown.
When news spread that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could be reduced, AJ Owens wanted to ensure his children understood what that meant, not in theory, but in practice.
SNAP, which helps more than 41 million Americans buy groceries, has been a lifeline for families across the country. With parts of the program in limbo, Owens and his two boys, ages 7 and 9, decided to help their neighbors.
On October 26, they loaded a tote bag and two old coolers from the garage, made a trip to the grocery store and set up a small, front-yard community food pantry.
“My youngest son said, ‘Dad, what if nobody comes?’ And I said, ‘Buddy, if we help one person, then this was all worth it.’ And here we are helping a heck of a lot more than one person,” Owens told People (1).
A TikTok video showing the modest setup of snacks, canned goods and a handwritten sign resonated immediately (2). It spread quickly, accumulating over 19 million views and drawing support from both neighbors and strangers across the country. Then something unexpected happened.
Owens hadn’t intended to make a statement. The pantry was simply meant as a lesson in empathy, scaled to the size of a front lawn. But the day he opened his mailbox to find a thick, unmarked envelope, everything changed.
He assumed it might be a small note or gift card. But inside was a stack of $100 bills and a handwritten message: “May God prosper and bless your food pantry.”
“I opened it up and just — hundred-dollar bills, a stack of hundred-dollar bills,” he said.”I truly didn’t know how to react. I froze. I started shaking and I started crying.”
The anonymous donation gave new momentum to what was already building. Owens now restocks the pantry daily with canned goods, diapers, formula and fresh produce.
Neighbors have begun contributing their own groceries and prepared meals. Even Pittsburgh Steelers player Yahya Black arrived with boxes of food from the team (3), turning the front yard into a true community hub.
The surge of support comes at a pivotal moment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned it may be unable to distribute about $8 billion in SNAP benefits for November because of the ongoing budget deadlock in Washington (4). The agency says it cannot draw from its roughly $6 billion reserve fund to cover the shortfall, a position that Democratic lawmakers and hunger advocates dispute, arguing that those funds are both available and necessary (5).
On average, households receiving SNAP benefits collected about $332 per month last year, or roughly $177 per person, according to USDA data. The majority of those benefits go to families with the greatest need. Households with children, older adults or people with disabilities received 83% of all SNAP assistance in fiscal year 2023.
Without those benefits, the consequences would be immediate. Ed Bolen, director of state SNAP strategies at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told CNN that millions of families could face impossible choices: whether to buy groceries, fill a prescription or pay to heat their homes.
“They are going to face an immense drop in their ability to put food on the table,” he said. “They’re going to skip meals. They’re going to substitute foods. They’re going to have to turn elsewhere.”
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Stories like Owens’ often spark the same question: What can I do? The truth is, you don’t need a viral moment, a big backyard or even a full pantry shelf to make a difference.
For some, that might mean donating pantry staples already on hand, such as canned goods, grains, baby formula or diapers. For others, it could mean coordinating with local community centers, schools or mutual aid groups that already serve as neighborhood support networks. These organizations have the systems in place; they often just need a consistent supply.
And for those without extra groceries to spare, participation can still be meaningful.
Restocking a community fridge, helping transport donations or sharing verified information about local food resources can carry real weight, especially as larger support systems face uncertainty.
Owens framed his approach simply: “People deserve food, people deserve to be fed,” he said. “As long as there’s a need in our community, we will keep this out.”
Right now, SNAP benefits for November are still in limbo. A federal court ordered the government to issue full payments, but the Supreme Court has temporarily paused that while it reviews the case. That means many families aren’t sure how much they’ll receive or when it will arrive.
Until a final decision is made, communities are continuing to fill the gaps where they can.
For Owens, the pantry’s future may shift as circumstances evolve, but one thing remains clear: as long as there is need, the work continues.
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People (1); TikTok (2, 3); CNN (4, 5); Farm Flavor (6).
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Pittsburgh dad goes viral after starting food bank for families losing SNAP. Then a mystery envelope left him shaking
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