As SNAP benefits run dry, 'grocery buddies' are footing their neighbors' food bills

For Alicia Spradley, it all started with a quick prayer.

Spradley from Chicago had seen the news that federal food aid was pausing at the start of November due to the government shutdown. With local food banks already stretched thin , she worried that her neighbors might soon go hungry.

So, on Monday night, she closed her eyes and asked, "What can I do to help?"

A few hours later, she came across a post on a Facebook community group about becoming a "grocery buddy" — someone who buys groceries for a stranger or anyone at risk of losing their food benefits. Without hesitation, Spradley wrote her own callout, offering support.

Mustafa Hussain for NPR /

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said funding has run dry for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — better known