Fort Collins Butcher Shop Limits Daily Meat Distribution After Overwhelming Demand During SNAP Benefit Crisis
Friendly Nick's Butcher in Fort Collins will cap its daily free meat distribution at 200 packages beginning this week after overwhelming demand during the recent SNAP benefit suspension left staff and volunteers struggling to keep pace with community need.
The butcher shop has been providing free meat packages to residents affected by federal nutrition assistance disruptions through its Meat the Need program. Owner Nick announced November 10 that the shop spent more than $25,000 last week alone to provide emergency food assistance.
The fundraising campaign has surpassed $100,000 in donations from community members. Nick urged donors to direct at least half of any planned contributions to local food banks, stating those organizations can stretch resources further than individual businesses.
Distribution will continue using the same eligibility requirement: one bag of meat per EBT card or Federal ID. The program aims to help families catch up on bills they may have skipped during the benefit suspension period.
Federal SNAP benefits were suspended for more than 600,000 Colorado residents during a government shutdown before court orders mandated restoration. The disruption affected approximately 330,000 households statewide.
Nick acknowledged the emotional toll of the relief effort, saying he broke down November 9 after receiving messages from residents describing their struggles. Despite the personal impact, he committed to continuing the program for several more weeks using available funds, or longer if the benefit crisis persists.
The shop has received numerous volunteer offers and designated Dawn to coordinate scheduling. Interested volunteers can contact her at 970-286-0017.
Friendly Nick's Butcher operates as a specialty butcher shop and grocery store in Northern Colorado, focusing on products from local farms practicing sustainable and humane farming methods, according to business profiles. The Meat the Need program represents the shop's first major charitable initiative documented in public records.
The shop plans to maintain its baby section inventory to serve families with young children, who comprise a significant portion of SNAP recipients. More than 16,000 children in Larimer County faced food benefit cuts during the suspension.
In Colorado, SNAP benefits are administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services in partnership with county agencies. Recipients access benefits through an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, known as the Colorado Quest Card, which functions similarly to a debit card at authorized retailers.
Multiple Fort Collins restaurants and businesses launched emergency food programs during the benefit suspension. Larimer County food banks received $650,000 in emergency grants, though officials noted that funding fell far short of actual community need.