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TikTok ‘Starving Baby’ Test Goes Viral, Exposes Patchy Aid From U.S. Churches

The series coincides with curtailed SNAP payments during the shutdown, focusing public attention on gaps in emergency help.

Overview

  • Kentucky creator Nikalie Monroe phoned 42–43 religious organizations posing as a mother seeking a single can of baby formula, then revealed the calls were a recorded social experiment.
  • Only 9–10 groups offered immediate assistance, while many declined or directed her to food banks or other resources.
  • Congregations that agreed to help drew a wave of support, with Heritage Hope Church of God reporting more than $75,000 in donations to its food pantry.
  • Several pastors criticized the project after it went viral, with some delivering denunciations in sermons and warning against disruptions.
  • The videos circulated as USDA instructed states to issue partial November SNAP benefits after a Supreme Court stay on full payments, producing uneven rollouts and ongoing uncertainty for recipients.