Community care over capitalism: How to support food access together

Starting November 1, 2025, 42 million Americans will stop receiving their SNAP benefits, leaving families across the country scrambling to access food. Seniors, disabled people and children in Colorado (who make up a majority of recipients) rely on SNAP to supplement their income to purchase food. Losing SNAP means an average financial deficit of $744 a month for a family of four until the shutdown is over, meaning food scarcity will be a reality for many Coloradoans this holiday season.

Pantries can help, but they sometimes have income or residency restrictions, limited hours, or may not meet dietary needs. Not to mention, they are the first resource suggested and likely won't be able to accommodate everyone in their community that is feeling the loss of SNAP. the State of Colorado is doing the best it can to help pantries meet demand, but emergency measures can't cover the loss of nearly $110 million in SNAP funds for Colorado's most vulnerable populations.

So how can we, as neighbors and communities, step up for each other when our systems fall short? When institutions fail to meet basic needs, neighbors can step up for each other. Here are a few solidarity-centered ways to keep food flowing through your community.

1. Host a Food Exchange or Pop-up Pantry: If you take a look through your own pantry, fridge, or freezer, you’ll probably find items buried in the deep, dark spaces that you haven't opened and likely won't. Your neighbors likely have the same predicament in their kitchens. Organize a simple food swap where people leave what unopened and unexpired foods they haven't used and take what they will. Once the event is over, donate what’s left to a local pantry or mutual aid group so nothing goes to waste. A food exchange is about recognizing that everyone has something to share and that food belongs in the community, not unused in the pantry!

2. Split Bulk Purchases: Buying in bulk can help stretch food budgets, but large quantities and upfront costs can be barriers. Team up with friends or neighbors to share a 25-pound bag of rice, a case of canned goods, or even a quarter of a cow from a local butcher. This kind of collaboration reduces costs, limits waste and makes high-quality food more accessible to everyone.

3. Host a Little Free Pantry: Like a Little Free Library, a Little Free Pantry allows anyone to take what they need and leave what they can. You can repurpose an old cabinet, sturdy storage bin, or bookshelf, then stock it with shelf-stable foods, hygiene products, or household basics.

Place it in a visible, weather-safe spot and coordinate with a few community members to restock it regularly. The best part is that it provides discreet, no-questions-asked support 24/7 without forms or proof of need.

4. Start a Leftovers Exchange: Everyone has that one recipe they absolutely crush but can never finish before getting tired of it. Instead of letting leftovers go to waste, start a small group chat, community board, or social post where people can share extra portions or trade meals.

A leftovers exchange can help stretch food budgets, reduce waste, and bring neighbors together one Tupperware at a time.

5. Set Up a Skill or Recipe Swap: Host an event where community members can exchange practical knowledge, such as extreme couponing, repairing clothing, meal prepping, or growing herbs on a windowsill. Sharing skills helps everyone save money and builds resilience that lasts long after the event ends. Recipe exchanges are also a great way to come together as a community.

This kind of resource-sharing reminds us that everyone has something valuable to offer. The more we share what we know, the stronger our communities become.

Community Care Is the Way Forward

We don’t have to wait for a system to fix itself. Every shared meal, every traded can, every propagated garden cutting chips away at a structure that tells us that tells us scarcity is natural and generosity is rare, when the truth has always been the opposite. Community care is how we can continue to feed each other and how we resist the idea that food is a privilege.

If you start one of these projects in your neighborhood, The Working Plate Project would love to hear from you! Share your story with us at theworkingplateproject@gmail.com and help us build a world where food access is everyone’s business and everyone deserves a working plate.