Nonprofits worry about filling gaps as shutdown strains Louisville families
I’M AMY LU WLKY NEWS. PEOPLE IN OUR AREA ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE SHUTDOWN MEANS FOR THEM. WLKY’S ALEXIS MATHEWS JOINS US NOW LIVE DOWNTOWN WITH THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS. ALEXIS. WELL, JENNIFER. RICK, WHAT THIS SHUTDOWN IS BRINGING IS YET ANOTHER SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY FOR MANY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO RELY ON FEDERAL DOLLARS. NOW, AFTER TALKING TO SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS TODAY ABOUT THIS MATTER, IT’S CLEAR THAT THIS PERIOD SHOULD ENCOURAGE US ALL TO BE MORE EDUCATED ON THE EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT FEUDS, A SHUTDOWN DOESN’T JUST DISRUPT THINGS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., A SHUTDOWN ALSO HURTS LOUISVILLE AND LOUISVILLE FAMILIES. DAY ONE OF THE SHUTDOWN IN LAPSE IN FEDERAL FUNDING, IS UNSETTLING FOR MANY FROM CITY LEADERS TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DARE TO CARE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY. THIS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, YOU KNOW, IN AND OF ITSELF. AND THAT’S WHAT’S REALLY UNNERVING WHEN YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, THE CONTINUATION OF NEED INCREASING AND THE CONTINUATION OF UNCERTAINTY INCREASING. AND EVERY DAY AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING TO CARE. CEO VINCENT JAMES EXPLAINS THIS AS NONPROFITS NATIONWIDE FACE THEIR OWN STRUGGLES AMID FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS, AND THE SHUTDOWN IS ONLY EXPECTED TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE. THEY DON’T HAVE A PAYCHECK THAT’S COMING AT THE END OF THE WEEK OR THE END OF THE MONTH, AND NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY’RE GOING TO GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR MAY NOT EVEN HAVE IT. JAMES IS SPEAKING OF THE FEDERAL WORKERS, WHO WILL NOT BE PAID UNTIL AFTER THE SHUTDOWN ENDS. ADDITIONALLY, DARE TO CARE SERVES 13 COUNTIES ACROSS KENTUCKY AND INDIANA. MANY SNAP AND WICK RECIPIENTS. NOW, DURING THIS DOWNTIME, THE PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE, BUT FUTURE PAYMENTS DEPEND ON HOW MUCH CONTINGENCY FUNDING EXISTS. AND THE CONCERN NOW IS IF THE CRUCIAL GOVERNMENT MONEY TO FEED FAMILIES DOES RUN OUT, IS THE EXPECTATION THAT COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL FILL THE VOID. WE CAN DO SOME OF THAT WORK, AND THAT’S ESSENTIALLY WHY NONPROFITS AND DARE TO CARE EXIST TO FILL THOSE GAPS AS WELL. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE SUCH A LARGE GAP THAT WE CAN’T DO IT ON OUR OWN. NOW, COMING UP AT SIX, I’LL TALK TO EXPERTS WHO ARE IN ANOTHER AREA OF NEED HERE IN LOUISVILLE THAT COULD ALSO SEE IMPACTS FROM THIS SHUTDOWN. AND THAT’S HOUS
Updated: 6:45 PM EDT Oct 1, 2025
Nonprofits worry about filling gaps as shutdown strains Louisville families
Updated: 6:45 PM EDT Oct 1, 2025
Day one of the government shutdown and the lapse in federal funding is unsettling for many. From city leaders to organizations like Dare to Care, who work tirelessly to combat food insecurity, the uncertainty is unnerving.”Everyday Americans are struggling,” Vincent James, CEO of Dare to Care, said.James explains as nonprofits nationwide face their own struggles amid federal funding cuts, the shutdown is only expected to add fuel to the fire, like for federal workers who will not be paid until after the shutdown ends.“They don’t have a paycheck coming at the end of the week or the end of the month, and they don’t know where they will get additional resources or they may not even have them,” James said. Additionally, Dare to Care serves 13 counties across Kentucky and Indiana, including many SNAP and WIC recipients. During this downtime, the programs will continue, but future payments depend on how much contingency funding exists. The concern now is: if the crucial government money to feed families does run out, is the expectation that community groups will fill the void?“We can do some of that work, and that’s essentially why nonprofits and Dare to Care exist—to fill those gaps as well. But this is going to be such a large gap that we can’t do it on our own,” James said.
Day one of the government shutdown and the lapse in federal funding is unsettling for many.
From city leaders to organizations like Dare to Care, who work tirelessly to combat food insecurity, the uncertainty is unnerving.
“Everyday Americans are struggling,” Vincent James, CEO of Dare to Care, said.
James explains as nonprofits nationwide face their own struggles amid federal funding cuts, the shutdown is only expected to add fuel to the fire, like for federal workers who will not be paid until after the shutdown ends.
“They don’t have a paycheck coming at the end of the week or the end of the month, and they don’t know where they will get additional resources or they may not even have them,” James said.
Additionally, Dare to Care serves 13 counties across Kentucky and Indiana, including many SNAP and WIC recipients.
During this downtime, the programs will continue, but future payments depend on how much contingency funding exists.
The concern now is: if the crucial government money to feed families does run out, is the expectation that community groups will fill the void?
“We can do some of that work, and that’s essentially why nonprofits and Dare to Care exist—to fill those gaps as well. But this is going to be such a large gap that we can’t do it on our own,” James said.