When a federal budget standoff cut off SNAP benefits in early November, families across the Chippewa Valley faced a sudden gap in food assistance. CVI didn’t just protest the gap — it filled it.

On November 4 and 5, volunteers gathered to pack meals for local families caught without the food assistance they depended on. WQOW and the Leader-Telegram both covered the effort.

It was one thread of a standing commitment CVI runs through its Neighbors Helping Neighbors program: meal packing, Hometown Heroes celebrations, support for Sojourner House, seasonal giveaways, and ongoing food service. Most opposition groups only oppose. CVI also feeds people — and that’s a large part of why the community trusts it.