As millions of Americans brace for the suspension of SNAP and WIC benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown, one New Jersey entrepreneur is using her platform to spread critical information about a lifeline program few people know exists.
In a viral post on Instagram, Beverly Dines (@beverlydines), who describes herself as a COO and Chief Empowerment Officer, urged families not to panic, explaining that the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is quietly offering free monthly grocery boxes to qualifying households across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
“This is not charity,” Dines stressed. “This is the USDA redistributing American-grown food that’s already been purchased from farmers.”
According to Dines, once accepted into the program, recipients receive monthly boxes that include meat, dairy, eggs, produce, canned goods, rice, pasta, peanut butter, and juice, essentially, a month’s worth of staples at no cost.
What makes the program especially powerful, she noted, is that income limits are much higher than SNAP, allowing individuals and families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty line to qualify. And unlike SNAP, participation in TEFAP does not affect other benefits.
With the shutdown halting SNAP disbursements on Nov. 1, nearly 42 million Americans, including working parents, seniors, and children, could lose access to their primary source of food assistance.
CBS News reported that many recipients are already making difficult choices. One mother in Maine said she plans to skip utility payments just to ensure her kids have enough to eat.
Dines’ message, practical, empathetic, and empowering, offers a rare sense of control amid chaos.
“These programs are hidden in plain sight,” she said. “They’re funded by your tax dollars. You just have to know where to look.”
For those seeking help, the USDA’s website allows users to find state-specific TEFAP distribution center and apply online. Dines also encouraged people to share the information widely, especially with seniors on fixed incomes, who often qualify but remain unaware.
As Washington stalls and working families face an uncertain November, voices like Dines’ are turning digital spaces into networks of survival — proving that even in crisis, community and information can be powerful forms of resistance.
