Living Fresh Market, an independent grocery store in west suburban Forest Park, experienced a decline in revenue and a change in their customer base last fall when the federal government shutdown led to a temporary halt to federal food assistance.The Black-owned grocery store even made a public plea for help from the community. And now, it is bracing for another decline in revenue starting in May when thousands are expected to start losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to newly expanded work requirements.About 15% of the store’s weekly revenue comes from people buying groceries with SNAP benefits, said Melody Winston, senior executive of Living Fresh Market.“When we talk about what has happened because of the decrease in SNAP benefits, we also understand that there’s a ripple effect that will happen, not just to the big [stores] but to the little guy,” Winston said on Monday. “The little guy is the one who’s fighting for community. The little guy is the one who stays here no matter what the margins are.”Illinois officials have estimated that about 150,000 individuals will lose benefits starting in May, unless they successfully apply for an exemption or show proof of volunteering or working 80 hours per month. The expanded work rules, which now include 55- to 64-year-olds along with parents whose youngest child is 14 years or older, went into effect in February and stem from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax bill that passed last year. Help for SNAP recipients Update your SNAP information: Illinois created a website where you can see if you meet the new SNAP program requirements. You can update your information by calling 1-800-843-6154. https://aberp.illinois.gov/screener/ABAWD?lang=ENFind a food pantry: Here’s a list of pantries in the Chicago area Where can I volunteer? Meals on Wheels Chicago pantry offers volunteer hours. Visit this website.https://www.mealsonwheelschicago.org/volunteer-individuals-formstack Volunteer shifts at Nourishing Hope’s pantries are available at their websitehttps://nourishinghopechi.org/volunteer/Care For Friends, 530 W. Fullerton Pkwy., can be reached at (773) 932-1010 In Forest Park, customers at Living Fresh Market are greeted with large posters explaining how to expand their SNAP dollars through a program called Link Match. Winston, standing in front of a display of colorful apples, was joined by the Greater Chicago Food Depository to warn of the ripple effects a loss of SNAP benefits will have for small business owners.“It’s almost like a perfect storm that’s hitting the country right now,” Winston said. “And to add this on top of it, it’s not going to help anybody. It’s going to make things worse in every household.”In Illinois, there were more than 9,400 authorized SNAP retailers as of fiscal year 2024, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Evelyn Phillip, left, supplies her tea to Living Fresh Market. She says when people lose their SNAP benefits “it affects everyone.”Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times Evelyn Phillips, a local vendor, supplies her Evey’s Detox Tea to Living Fresh Market. But she too, is worried about the ripple effects of people losing their SNAP benefits. She's concerned her business could see a decrease in sales that could will force her to make cuts to her staff.“This is not only affecting those who are getting SNAP benefits, it affects everyone,” Phillips said.Danielle Perry, from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, said the loss in revenue will also impact areas outside of the Chicago area, pointing out that in some Illinois counties as many as 30% of the population rely on SNAP benefits to buy groceries.“That grocer, in that community, their revenue is probably even bigger than what you see here in urban communities,” Perry said. “They will likely just close, just like we’re saying rural hospitals will close, that same thing is going to happen to the grocery store.” READ MORERefugee families are the latest group to face SNAP food benefit cutoffOlder Chicagoans at high risk of losing SNAP food assistance as new work rules kick inNew SNAP work rules leave unemployed Englewood man and thousands of others at riskWalmart, Amazon and CPS top list of employers where Illinois workers still need SNAP benefitsAs new SNAP rules loom, Cook County officials warn of health consequences for people cut off ...read more read less