‘Scary’ SNAP cuts prompt return of Phoenix Halloween food drive

Last year, Ash Uss watched the federal government shutdown threaten food aid benefits for millions. At the time, she was also a social worker at an elementary school. It was palpable how losing access to this critical assistance would impact kids and their families. 

“It was very scary,” she recalls. 

Uss is also a DJ, who performs as Trip Hazard, and she had a busy Halloweekend lined up. She asked some of the spots hosting her gigs, along with other Phoenix spaces she frequented, if they’d collect food. 

“I knew, around the city, there’d be probably thousands of people going to bars, Halloween parties and fun events,” she says, explaining her thought process. “I bet these people can all just bring a box of mac-and-cheese from their cupboard.”

The simple request launched her first Halloween food drive, and the results were astounding. Donations filled Uss’ one-bedroom home and took 16 carloads to deliver to three Phoenix schools, a local food pantry, six families, mutual aid groups and community fridges.

“It was insane how generous people were,” Uss says. 

This year, Uss and nearly three dozen Phoenix businesses are pairing their Halloween weekend with helping neighbors.

People can drop off boxed pasta, cereals, rice, beans, applesauce, soups and other pantry staples from Friday through Sunday at places including Copper State Coffee, King Pigeon Thrift & Vintage, Monsoon Market and its sibling cafe Strip Mall. The latter two are run by Michela Ricci and Koral Casillas.

“There’s a lot of reduction of resources and options for people who need them,” Casillas says. “Food insecurity was a big one.”

Arizonans struggle amid SNAP cuts

The need for donated food has grown since the federal government drastically reduced access to SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. New work requirements and more costs shifted onto states have led to millions losing access to food aid. 

Nationwide, Arizona has seen the worst fallout from the changes. Over 461,000 Arizonans, including nearly 173,000 children, no longer receive this lifeline. That’s a 52% drop between July 2025 and June 2026.

“It takes longer for people to get on food stamps. It means that there’s less people to go through applications, right?” Uss says. “There’s just all of these like administrative changes that result in people not having access to food.”

The food Uss and local businesses collect this weekend will once again be shared with smaller food pantries, mutual aid groups, community fridges and people who message the DJ.

Uss learned last year that people in her circle struggled to afford groceries. She knows that challenge persists as the cost of living in the Valley continues to rise. Uss followed up her original food drive with a summer water drive.

The organizer hopes making the Halloween food drive an annual event will inspire others to take small, simple actions in their own community. 

“It’s very meaningful in a period that feels very, very dark,” Uss says. 

These Phoenix spots will accept food donations this weekend:

• The Alchemist’s Enclave
• Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., Miracle Mile brewery
• Bud’s on Grand
• Central Records
• Copper Star Coffee
• Core Collective Fitness
• Crescent Ballroom
• The Dirty Drummer
• Flipside Funhouse at Walter Studios (Friday)
• Frances
• Gracie’s Tax Bar
• The Green Woodpecker (Sunday)
• Huarachis Taqueria
• King Pigeon Thrift & Vintage
• Linger Longer Lounge
• Local Nomad
• Maleta Cafe
• Matilda’s
• Monsoon Market
• Ollie Vaughn’s
• Pickers Playground
• The Record Gallery
• Sana Sana Cerveceria
• Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop
• Scaredy Katz Halloween Party (Saturday)
• Showtime Cafe
• Songbird Coffee & Tea House
• Stinkweeds Record Store
• Strip Mall
• Testal Mexican Kitchen
• Tracks in Wax Records
• Valley Bar
• Welcome Diner