It’s me, Mariah Thomas, and I’m back for today’s Daily Roundup… with still more updates from the Big Beautiful Bill. It has been consuming my waking hours and some of my sleeping ones. No joke.

In case you missed it: Last week, the bill crossed the finish line, receiving approval in the Senate and House. President Donald Trump signed it with fanfare on July 4. All four members of Montana’s U.S. congressional delegation voted in support of the sweeping budget bill after successfully cutting a controversial public land sale provision from the legislation.

“This is a win for hardworking Montanans and a win for the country,” Rep. Ryan Zinke said. “The bill puts Americans first, delivers real tax relief, secures the border, and protects our public lands from being sold off to the highest bidder. I was never going to back down when it came to public land sales and I’m never going to give up the fight to deliver for Montana.”

But just because it passed in Congress doesn’t mean the bill’s journey is finished. There’s going to be a lot to unpack in terms of changes to programs with the bill. One of the programs primed for big cuts is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP.

SNAP got its origins as the Food Stamp program during the Great Depression in 1939 and became permanent under the Food Stamp Act of 1964. Nationally, more than 41 million people use the service. In Montana, around 81,000 residents receive help paying for nutritious food through the program.

The Big Beautiful Bill’s changes to SNAP are projected to ax $186 billion from the program by 2034. The legislation also implements a work requirement for people between the ages of 18-65, stating they must work, volunteer, or be in school at least 20 hours per week to be eligible for the benefits.

This week, I talked with Sophie Albert, at the North Valley Food Bank, about the ways they’re planning to adapt and continue meeting community needs as SNAP changes come down the pike, potentially leading to more Montanans struggling with food insecurity.

She told me the North Valley Food Bank has been prepping for potential cuts to SNAP for months now. One of the food bank’s strengths, in her opinion, is the flexibility that comes with being a grassroots organization.

“Being more on the ground level of things is kind of different,” Albert said. “You can make quick decisions with a team of 10. We have an incredible team. Everybody has their expertise.”

Albert said food banks play a role filling in gaps SNAP doesn’t cover. It can act as a resource for a family who doesn’t qualify for SNAP but may still need food assistance in a pinch. Or, for those on the program, a food bank can further cut their grocery costs by helping them access the most expensive items.

When SNAP cuts do come down the pike, Albert anticipates increased demand for the food bank’s services. That’s something the food bank has been used to in recent years. COVID and inflation each contributed to higher demand. Albert said the food bank sees 1,200 people on a weekly basis, including tallies from visitors at its three mobile food banks. That figure is triple the number of weekly visitors from when she started at North Valley Food Bank five years ago.

In anticipation of SNAP’s cuts, Albert said the organization has already ramped up its hours, opening its Whitefish grocery store doors three days a week. Making an adjustment like that means when demand for their services sees an increase, they have the volunteer capacity to meet the need.

SNAP cuts aren’t the only change the food bank has faced this year. Albert said they saw grant funding from the Local Food Protein Assistance Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program slashed earlier this year.

All of it means the North Valley Food Bank has a larger fundraising goal than normal this year, coming in at a price tag of $1.2 million needed from private donations alone.  

While that’s a hefty figure, and private donations aren’t a national fix for food banks’ slashed budgets, Albert has faith in her own community.

“I think looking at the local level, that actually is possible,” she said. “We have a lot of wealthier community members, so I’m hoping that people will pitch in.”

She also encouraged people with time on their hands to volunteer, and said advocacy remains important. That includes checking on neighbors and understanding community impacts of the bill.

Now, the rest of your Daily Roundup.

Julie Laing’s latest creation: a chickpea vegetable skillet, topped off with couscous and feta. Yeah — I need that in my stomach ASAP. Read her column here.