Dear South Bend Common Council: Hold an Emergency Meeting on Delivering Food Assistance to SNAP RECIPIENTS

mayormueller@southbendin.gov; clee@southbendin.gov; ogooden-rodgers@southbendin.gov; smcbride@southbendin.gov; twarner@southbendin.gov; sbolden-simpson@southbendin.gov; sniezgod@southbendin.gov; odavis@southbendin.gov; kwhite@southbendin.gov; rtomasmo@sou

Thousands of South Bend families are facing an immediate hunger crisis. With the federal government shutdown halting SNAP and other food assistance programs, an estimated 20,000 residents could lose the ability to buy groceries as early as November 1, 2025.

At the same time, the City of South Bend holds more than $92 million in cash reserves between its General Fund and Rainy Day Fund—money that was built through the taxes and labor of the very residents now in need. The purpose of these funds is to protect the community during emergencies and unexpected hardships. This is exactly that moment.

While the Mayor’s Office has resisted the idea of using city reserves to meet this urgent need, the Common Council has the independent authority and fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of residents. We’re calling on the Council to hold an emergency hearing and take swift action to allocate up to $4.8 million to support local food banks, pantries, and direct relief for affected families.

It’s time for South Bend’s leadership to demonstrate that Democratic values mean standing up for the poor, the hungry, and the forgotten—not just during times of prosperity, but especially during crisis.

This petition is about justice, compassion, and moral responsibility. When government fails at the federal and state levels, local leadership must step up to ensure that no family in South Bend goes hungry.


To: mayormueller@southbendin.gov; clee@southbendin.gov; ogooden-rodgers@southbendin.gov; smcbride@southbendin.gov; twarner@southbendin.gov; sbolden-simpson@southbendin.gov; sniezgod@southbendin.gov; odavis@southbendin.gov; kwhite@southbendin.gov; rtomasmo@sou
From: [Your Name]

Dear Members of the South Bend Common Council,

I join calls for the South Bend Common Council to hold an emergency hearing with the Mayor’s Department of Administration and Finance to discuss allocating up to $4.8 million from the City’s General Fund and Rainy Day Funds to provide food assistance to South Bend residents affected by the federal government shutdown.

As of November 1, 2025, approximately 20,000 residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal food-assistance programs will lose vital support. The proposed allocation would provide emergency food relief at an estimated $60 per person per week for four weeks—a critical lifeline during this unprecedented disruption.

The Rainy Day Fund was created to meet urgent, unanticipated needs and revenue shortfalls. There is no more fitting moment to use these funds than now, when our community faces a crisis threatening the health and stability of thousands of families.

While the Mayor’s Office has expressed resistance to using city reserves for this purpose, the Common Council has both the authority and the fiduciary responsibility to act independently on behalf of the people it represents. The Council must lead where others hesitate. This is the time for South Bend’s Democratic leadership to stand firm and reject the growing trend of neglecting the poor and working class.

For years, the City has extended millions in tax abatements and TIF incentives to private developers for high-end projects. Meanwhile, the most vulnerable residents—those who built this city and sustain it through their labor and taxes—are being left behind. With more than $92 million in reserves reported between the General Fund and Rainy Day Fund, South Bend has the financial capacity and moral duty to step in.

We urge the Council to take decisive action. Convene this emergency hearing immediately and commit to protecting the people of South Bend during this shutdown. Leadership requires courage, and now is the time to show it.

With respect,