One in four Warren County residents experiences food insecurity, according to Michelle Bernth, executive director at Agape. 

One in four people in this county are unsure where their next meal is going to come from. 

One in four people do not know how they are going to put food in their children’s bellies. 

Mary and John, whose names have been changed in this story to protect their privacy, are one of those families. 

Mary works at a vape shop in Warrenton while John works in manufacturing, and they have four children ranging from 18 months old to 20 years old. They both work full time and earn $15 an hour each. 

On top of their $1,100 in rent, Mary said they pay roughly $250 a month for electricity, $100 for water, $160 in car insurance and $300 on a car payment, $170 for internet and $110 for their phone plan. 

Even though they both work full time, and are enrolled in social service programs like budget billing for utilities and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for groceries, there are many months where they still struggle to make ends meet. 

“Anywhere between $200 and $300 a week is what we spend on groceries, and that’s pretty lowballed, like, I’m shopping the clearance rack and going to Aldi,” said Mary. “Groceries is honestly our biggest bill.”

Each month, Mary and John receive $639 a month in SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. 

Enrolling in SNAP benefits was not a decision Mary and John took lightly, nor is it an easy process to prove eligibility. 

Mary said she had to spend an entire day on the phone in order to receive her benefits, vital time that could have been spent working to put food on the table. She said she did not want to rely on the government for assistance, but when she saw her daughter skipping meals in order to help out, she realized she had no choice. 

“My oldest (daughter), will a lot of times, if we don’t have (food), they’ll just be like ‘it’s okay I’m not hungry anyway,” said Mary. “As a mom that gets to me. So when I feel like it’s getting to the point where my kids will try to sacrifice, or I find myself sacrificing so they can eat, that was my breaking point.”

When those benefits fall short, they rely on food pantries, like Agape, as a safety net.

Bernth said this is how the system is supposed to work. When hard work and government programs are not enough to feed families, organizations like Agape step in to cover the difference. 

“When someone is facing food insecurity and looking at how to feed their kids, we encourage people to utilize the resources that are available to them,” said Bernth. “So receiving SNAP benefits and receiving food from the food pantry is not double dipping or taking advantage.” 

With changes coming to the SNAP program under President Donald Trump’s signature legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill, that reliance could increase drastically. 

According to Newsweek, the OBBA extends work requirements for SNAP benefits from adults ages 18-54 up to 64, as well as parents of children ages 14-17. The bill will also shift a significant portion of the program’s costs, which were previously covered federally, to the states. 

Those changes are set to be phased into the program in 2026 and 2027. 

Bernth said these changes will have a direct, and negative impact on families here in Warren County. 

“The changes at the federal level are going to have dramatic and sweeping impacts on families in this community,” said Bernth. “Individuals and families are going to see a decrease in the benefits that they receive through programs such as SNAP or WIC.”

She said she expects there to be a similar decrease in grant funding and in-kind donations of food to organizations like Agape, creating a double-edged sword for those facing food insecurity. 

For the roughly 1,600 people here in Warren County that Agape serves monthly, nearly half of which are children, it just means there will be less to eat. 

Brent Engel, with the Northeast Community Action Corporation, agreed the potential loss to SNAP benefits was concerning, but hoped that the impact would not be too extensive. 

“We know that many people rely upon SNAP to put food on the table. We also know that food pantries and other non-governmental programs are already pushed to a limit on what they can provide, so our hope is that the number of people who see their SNAP benefits reduced will not be substantial,” said Engel. 

Engel was optimistic that when federal programs fall short, the people of Warren County would step up to help their neighbors. 

“Warren County traditionally is very strong about helping their neighbors in need, and we expect that will continue, even if these SNAP benefits are greatly reduced,” said Engel. 

Bernth expressed concern that the potential increased need created by SNAP cuts could push Agape, and organizations like it, past their breaking point. 

She also pointed out that in communities without organizations like NECAC and Agape, people are still hungry and still have to find ways to feed their families. 

“We know that when communities don’t have social services like what we provide, that crime rates go up, drug rates go up, homelessness rates go up, and those are things that nobody in this community wants to see happen,” said Bernth. 

Bernth said their need for donations could be higher than ever, but she was confident this community would continue to show their generosity towards those in need. 

“We are optimistic and hopeful that the community in Warren County will step up to the plate and help stand in that gap with us,” said Bernth. 

Bernth said those interested in making donations of food or cash can mail a check to 28855 Legion Trail Dr., Warrenton, or visit Agape’s website at agapemo.org/.