Every year on October 1st begins the start of the government’s fiscal year, which runs until September 30th into the next year. The point of the fiscal year is to prepare the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Simply put, it’s preparing the government for what they’re going to spend their money on. But what happens when the government doesn’t prepare that budget?
A Government shutdown.
As of November 12, 2025 the shutdown has ended, lasting 43 days making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history. However, that doesn’t get rid of the lasting effects it has had on people across the country.
Across the country, non-essential government workers were furloughed, which means they were put on unpaid leave. While essential personnel, like law enforcement, air traffic controllers, military, were forced to work without pay, leading to many being left in financial strain.
Along with the financial strain many were experiencing, low-income families were left hungry when SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were either cut or delayed, meaning during the month of November, many families were unable to get the food they needed, especially during the month of Thanksgiving where families get together to feast.
Social worker, Melinda Pierson acknowledges the difficulty students have with having a secure food source, especially during the government shutdown. “…We have a high number of kids that are on free and reduced lunch…” Pierson said “And of course, having regular and reliable access to food is a fundamental human need. And without their needs being met, they can’t focus on things like algebra, chemistry and biology.”
In response to that, within our school, Pierson and her intern Faith Halliday created food bags to assist our CCHS families that were going hungry. “We’ve just recently secured, my intern, Faith, secured weekly food bags that can go home with students that are consisting of mostly snack foods.” Pierson said, “It does ensure… that we can make sure that there’s no kid that’s leaving on Friday that won’t have any food in their belly between Friday and Monday when we get back… We had many faculty members that, over the last few weeks, have donated groceries that they put together entire meals in a bag.”
Though the government shutdown has ended, Pierson ensured that the food bags continue, not simply for students “that qualify” but for all students that express a need. “If you come back to counseling and say that you need access to some food, we’re gonna make sure that you have food to go home with.” Pierson said.
This government shutdown has made history, something that many of us are seeing for the first time; a 43 day long government shutdown. Despite the struggles that many of us have gone through due to this, CCHS makes sure they have our backs.
