Grocery buddies are helping buy food for SNAP recipients. What are they? (USA TODAY)

This is an except from an article where our team was interviewed by Betty Lin-Fisher for USA Today

Outpouring of help lifts spirits

In Milwaukee, Meag Sargent, 30, posted on her social media accounts her interest in being a grocery buddy. But she quickly started hearing from more people needing help than she could sponsor.

So she reached out to a group chat of friends, including Jenny Holmdohl, 31.

When they created a Google Form and put it online, they quickly received more than 200 requests from volunteers and recipients. Sargent said they've been "building this plane as we go," but they've so far paired 20 people and have an additional 50 they're trying to connect.

The friends said they decided not to limit those requesting help to SNAP recipients, saying there are plenty of people who have food insecurity who don't qualify for benefits. They also plan on continuing to pair people, even if SNAP benefits get reinstated since many people have said even with full benefits, it is still a struggle to afford groceries.

Sargent is helping two families for November and December. She is contributing $400 a month for one family and is trying to coordinate with the other, a single mom with one child who asked for $50 worth of groceries. Sargent said she's trying to see if she needs more help.

The friends said they've been heartened to see so many people help others they don't know.

"In the last year, I've been feeling pretty down about society and been like 'People don't care about one another, nobody's connecting.' This has really proved the opposite. I'm starting to actually think the collective is feeling the exact same way as me," Holmdohl said.

"We are coming together and working together to make some good change," she said.