Gap Ministries sees higher demand during government shutdown

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - More people are turning to Gap Ministries, a local nonprofit, to help them put food on the table as the government shutdown continues.

Gap Ministries’ ’05 Market gives free and discounted food to people who are struggling. The organization says demand has more than doubled since the shutdown began, with daily visitors jumping from 500-600 people to more than 1,200.

More than 15% of people living in Pima County face food insecurity, according to Feeding America. With more people out of work or awaiting food stamps due to the government shutdown, Gap Ministries says the need for affordable food has never been greater.

“Wednesday morning, we had 350 people waiting at the door when we opened at 9,” said Tiane Kennedy, Gap Ministries development director.

The organization has expanded their hours and is opening a second location to give more people access to food assistance. Unlike other food banks, the ’05 Market doesn’t track who comes in and out, meaning people can come as often as they need with no questions asked.

The Community Warehouse, which offers free food, has been open for four years. The ’05 Market, a discount grocery store, has been operating for one year. At the market, visitors can pick out free food or purchase food at greatly reduced prices using cash, credit/debit, or EBT cards.

Kennedy says the approach allows them to help people of all kinds, from those on food stamps to those in need of an extra hand.

“We also get a lot of working families that aren’t even on benefits, but they’re just trying to stretch their budget just a little bit more,” Kennedy said.

Jill and Tim Langhus-Griffin, who have two foster kids at home, know this reality all too well.

“It does help quite a bit, it gets pretty pricey, and a lot of its organic so it’s really helpful,” said Jill Langhus-Griffin.

The couple is part of the more than 1,200 people who come through the market’s doors daily, a number Kennedy says is double what they were seeing before the shutdown.

Despite this, she said the extra work is all worth it.

“If we can do some things that prevent families from ever getting to that point and give them that little extra bit that keeps them from not being able to pay their bills, lose their home, whatever, that’s really the reason we started doing this,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy says their second location will be opening on Tucson’s eastside in just a few weeks, which she hopes will help them serve even more people in need.

Gap Ministries’ Community Warehouse is located at 1994 West Weymouth and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone can visit every day with no qualifications needed.

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