As of November 1, 2025, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, has been partially funded due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Millions of families across the U.S. including more than 3.5 million Texans will receive reduced food benefits this month, roughly half of what they normally receive. For individuals and families facing cancer, this reduction is especially painful.
At Cancer Care Services, we know that food is medicine. When someone in treatment loses or has a significant reduction in nutritional support, the impact goes far beyond the dinner table. It affects energy levels, emotional health, and even the ability to stay on treatment.
That’s why our team has already taken steps to respond.
Why This SNAP Reduction Matters for People with Cancer
The partial SNAP funding means that many Texans, especially those with limited income, will see smaller benefits or delays in receiving them on their Lone Star Cards. While state and federal officials continue working toward a long-term solution, uncertainty has already created stress for families who rely on these benefits to meet basic needs.
Recent data from Tarrant Area Food Bank shows that more than 220,000 families in Tarrant County are eligible for SNAP benefits.
For people with cancer, good nutrition is not optional, it’s essential. It supports healing, energy, and treatment adherence. Yet cancer treatment often causes financial hardship: lost wages, high medical bills, and increased transportation costs. When food support shrinks, patients can face an impossible choice between paying for treatment or paying for groceries.
Cancer isn’t just about medicine. It’s about helping clients find stability financially, emotionally, and physically. This partial benefit funding underscores how fragile that stability can be.
How Cancer Care Services Is Responding
When news broke that SNAP would only be partially funded this month, our staff immediately began assessing how this would affect our clients and their families. We’re responding on several fronts:
- Emergency Food Support: Thanks to the generosity of this community, we’ve expanded access to grocery gift cards and emergency assistance funds to help clients purchase nutritious food. When federal benefits fall short, we step in to bridge the gap.
- Resource Navigation: Our social work team is ready to help anyone relying on SNAP find nearby food pantries and community programs. We’re working closely with partners like Tarrant Area Food Bank, local churches, and neighborhood centers to keep families nourished.
- Community Collaboration: Cancer Care is connected with healthcare providers, social workers, and partner nonprofits across North Texas to coordinate referrals and share the most current information about food resources.
- Advocacy and Awareness: We’re using our voice to highlight how food insecurity affects health outcomes for those in cancer treatment, and to encourage collaboration across our community to ensure no one goes hungry while fighting cancer.
We know this situation is difficult, but we also know our community is strong. When public systems falter, neighbors step in to lift one another up.
What Clients Can Do Right Now
If you or someone you know is affected by the reduced SNAP benefits, here are a few important steps to take:
- Check your EBT balance: Use any remaining funds for shelf-stable and high-protein foods to stretch your groceries.
- Contact your Cancer Care Services social worker. We can connect you to emergency grocery support, food pantries, and community partners offering assistance. The Tarrant Area Food Bank’s “Find Food Map” helps locate food resources by ZIP code: https://tafb.org/find-food-main/.
- Call 2-1-1. This free resource line can help locate nearby food pantries and meal programs: https://www.uwtexas.org/2-1-1-texas.
- Talk to your healthcare team. If food insecurity is affecting your ability to follow your treatment plan, let them know — nutrition is an essential part of your care.
You don’t have to face this alone. Our social work team is here to help you and your family.
Moving Forward Together
The coming weeks may continue to bring uncertainty for families depending on SNAP benefits. But here at Cancer Care Services, our commitment remains the same: to ensure that no one
faces cancer alone, or is hungry. We’ll continue to walk beside our clients, connecting them to resources, easing financial stress, and making sure nourishment and care go hand in hand.
If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to our team at 817-921-0653 or info@cancercareservices.org. If you’d like to support our financial assistance program, visit givebutter.com/KazQep to give.
Together, we can turn compassion into action, because cancer care doesn’t stop when the food supply does.
Becky Williams, MSW
Vice President of Programs
(817) 921-0653
Cancer Care Services is a nonpartisan organization. This message is not intended to express a political viewpoint, but rather to provide timely information and support for individuals and families affected by cancer who may be impacted by the current changes to SNAP benefits.
