Staff photo by Fritz Busch Tyleen Miller of New Ulm shops at the New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf Bakery Giveaway Thursday. Miller said she is finding ways to stretch expensive meet by adding other ingredients to cooking.

NEW ULM — People in need trickled in and out of the New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf that was open for Bakery Giveway and other food Thursday.

The Bakery Giveaway offers all kinds of bakery goods including bread, rolls and doughnuts — plus apples, squash, mashed potatoes, deli and other sandwich items — 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 12:30 to 2 p.m. Thursdays.

The program was created in response to the government shutdown. The Trump Administration refused to administer SNAP benefits on Nov. 1, even after two judges had ordered the government to pay at least partial benefits using an emergency fund. On Thursday, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. The ruling by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. gave President Donald Trump’s administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

According to a Associated Press, it’s unlikely the 42 million Americans — about 1 in 8, most of them in poverty — will see the money on the debit cards they use for groceries nearly that quickly.

The Bakery Giveaway offering doesn’t count as a usual monthly food shelf visit for approved clients. There is no limit on the number of visits by anyone, whether or not they live in or around New Ulm. Food items may be limited based on availability.

New Ulm retiree Tyleen Miller was among those visiting the food shelf Thursday.

“I’m upset that (benefits) were taken away. I don’t know how long it will last but I’m glad the food shelf has enough food here to help people out. Like everybody else, I appreciate the food shelf. It’s important to let people know about it,” said Miller. “I constantly hear from a lot of people that they don’t have enough money, especially for meat right now, because it’s outrageous right now. I’ve figured out ways to make ground beef go a long ways now by using less of it and adding other things to it. You do what you have to do. We live on a fixed income, but I still believe we will make it. I’m really happy to have the food shelf available.”

She said the Bakery Giveaway allows her to have food she can use to make a meal if she can’t bake.

“Sugar and flour prices have gone up too. I know how to stretch things. I’m pretty frugal. If I can’t use something one day, I freeze it,” said Miller. “My family and I love tater tot hot dish. I also like to put shredded chicken in a crock pot and make sandwiches out of it. I like turkey and mashed potatoes too. My mom was a big cook. She taught me a lot about cooking and I’m glad.”

She said her neighbors often give her all kinds of vegetables that she often puts away for later use.

Nicole Hauser also visited the food shelf Thursday.

“I’m a single mom with two kids. My partner has the only income,” she said. “It’s great to have extra food shelf hours after the government shut down. It’s nice. Everybody here is always very friendly. It’s nice to have food options here.”

New Ulm Area Food Shelf Executive Director Brad Kirk said the Bakery Giveaway includes food items from local grocery stores and Kwik Trip outlets. He said the food shelf has enough food to last through the end of the year.

Kirk said he’s seen about a 25% uptick in food shelf visitors over the last two weeks.

Kirk said he isn’t sure just when benefits would be paid because state systems are not set up to pay reduced benefit and would have to be updated, which could take an unknown period of time.

“I can order more food if I have to,” said Kirk. “If I can’t get more food on a Second Harvest Food Bank truck, I’ll buy it locally. About 900 Brown County people rely on SNAP benefits. I’ll be fine if the shutdown goes on until the end of the year.”

He said a variety of donations have been coming into the food shelf.

“Yesterday, two people walked in with $100 cash donations. I got a $3,000 donation check today. It’s nice to see the support we have,” said Kirk.