Local foodbanks, pantries ramp up efforts to fill gaps as SNAP recipients face uncertainty
BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (WKRC) — The longest government shutdown in history now has millions of people worried about being able to provide meals for their families.
Recipients of SNAP, also known as food stamps, will not receive their November benefits on Saturday if the shutdown continues. In Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, about 2.5 million people rely on SNAP benefits. Now, foodbanks and pantries are scrambling to make sure they can fill the gaps in the meantime.
Jessica Newman is a SNAP recipient who also visits Hamilton's New Life Mission Food Pantry to get her through October.
"Right now, it's devastating. I mean, we considerably rely on this extra help for food and just to be able to live, really," Newman said.
She's preparing to be without food stamps next month. Local 12 asked what she would do to make it through.
"Come to the food pantries and just pray to God that it works itself out, but that can only go so far," said Newman.
Director and Pastor at New Life Mission Felix Russo says they're now stocking up so they can serve more food to even more people.
"We stayed open during COVID. It's never an option for us to close or to cut our hours as long as we get the food in," Russo said. "For the patrons, just know we're going to do everything we can to keep supplying them with the food that we've been giving them."
Shared Harvest Foodbank provides food to pantries, including New Life Mission, shelters, and soup kitchens. They serve nearly 50,000 people in five counties each month.
"We do not have the resources to supply people with the quantities of food to mitigate the gap that SNAP traditionally provides," said Terry Perdue, Executive Director of Shared Harvest Foodbank.
Now, they're preparing to pack up thousands of boxes of emergency food for families who don't get their SNAP benefits.
"My biggest fear is that this shutdown continues and we completely deplete our resources, and we have nothing left to offer," Perdue said.
They hope the shutdown ends this week. In the meantime, Newman has this message to the lawmakers in Washington.
"I know that a lot of them haven't been through what I've been through or all the people that we're talking about, but the struggle is real, and like, it's going to hurt a lot if this goes through," said Newman.
Those pantry and foodbank leaders say if you were thinking about donating to your local food pantry, now would be a great time to do that. They are accepting food and monetary donations. Hamilton County Job and Family Services says SNAP funds already in accounts will still roll over into November, and clients will still have access to their accounts.
