Montezuma & dolores counties snap emergency response 

November 13th, 2025 Update:

From the Colorado Department of Human Services website:

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“Coloradans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help purchase healthy food will begin receiving full payments for the month of November 2025. CDHS will start loading payments onto Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and SNAP participants will see payments on their EBT cards by Thursday afternoon. Visit cdhs.colorado.gov/SNAP for the latest information on SNAP.”

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The Southwest Colorado SNAP Emergency Response is continuing to monitor the needs of our community as benefits are restored.  The effects of this program’s disruption have rippled far and wide throughout our food system, affecting the financial wellbeing of individual households and small independent grocers, as local food assistance providers have seen remarkable increases in demand.  For example, the demand for food at Good Sam’s Food Pantry in Cortez has increased by 160% over the last two weeks.  The community’s donations have been helping to meet that demand. 

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November 8, 2025 Update: 

Because of a United States Supreme Court ruling late yesterday, Colorado SNAP benefits are frozen again. November benefits were released to about 5% of Colorado’s SNAP recipients prior to that court order. Colorado continues to work closely with federal agencies in an effort to access these vital resources. As before, our stance is that the Montezuma & Dolores SNAP Emergency Response will continue to operate and focus on the needs of our community.  

 

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November 7, 2025 Update:

Early the evening of November 7th, Governor Polis issued a statement that the state was attempting to release full benefits to Colorado SNAP benefits by Monday, November 10. 

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Regardless of whether the USDA fully complies with the court order and releases funds to our state, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry. Our response to this food security crisis will continue with determination and care. We are deeply grateful for the many generous hearts who have stepped forward to help, and we draw strength from the collective spirit of generosity that defines this community. Together, we will continue to create abundance and nourishment for all throughout this holiday season.

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Background:​

During the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) chose not to release contingency funds that would allow states to pay SNAP (food assistance) benefits for November.  On November 6th, the Trump administration was ordered by a federal judge to fully fund SNAP benefits, and rather than comply, the administration has appealed the decision.  It's currently unclear what happens next, and we expect there to continue to be delays in getting these benefits to households.

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This means Colorado's approximately $120 million of November SNAP benefits are currently on hold. 

 

Community organizations, governing bodies, and individuals are working together to make sure all our neighbors are able to feed their families.  This emergency response is mobilizing emergency food resources, coordinating donations, and advocating for urgent government action.

 

Our local emergency food assistance programs (like food pantries and soup kitchens) are seeing a considerable increase in demand. We need significant resources to meet those needs, donate to the relief fund here.

 

We also expect that our small, independent grocery stores are seeing a meaningful decrease in sales.  These pillars are essential in feeding rural communities, and we’re working to make sure they stay open, resourced, and supported.  Shop at small, independent grocery stores to help them stay open!

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 Important things to know: 

 

• Coloradans should continue applying for benefits and can continue using their food benefits to buy food. Retailers are required to continue accepting EBT cards.*

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• October benefits for nutrition programs–including SNAP and WIC–are NOT impacted.

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• Colorado public school students can continue to access free meals at school.

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• WIC, Double Up Food Bucks, and Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus continue to operate as usual.

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• For continuously updated information of what is happening at the state level, please visit this reference document put together by Nourish Colorado, Hunger Free Colorado, Provecho Collective, and Feeding Colorado.

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*If you encounter a situation where that is no longer the case, please contact Lauren Ames at

foodsecurity@goodfoodcollective.org so we can help the retailer get back online and accept cards.​​​