RAVENA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -SNAP recipients started lining up one hour before the RCS Community Library in Ravena opened for a gift card giveaway. What started as just a few people quickly grew to more than 50.
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“I was upset that I couldn’t find a parking spot and not for the reasons you normally would be; just confirms my worst suspicions about how deeply people are hurting through this crisis,” said Peter Gannon, the president and CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. Inside, 100 people were waiting for their gift cards and more came as the event went on.
$50 or $100 are on each of the gift cards to spend at either Market 32, Hannaford or Tops. Gannon is trying to figure out how long this money will last the community. “$250,000 is the initial wave. We anticipate going back to do more later this week.”
To qualify for a gift card, you have to be a current SNAP beneficiary and be living in Albany County. Bring your government photo ID and current SNAP card to one of the distribution sites. If you don’t have your SNAP card, proof of residency will work. Only one gift card will be given out per household per location.
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“Last night when I went to bed, it looked like a deal was imminent. Now we’re hearing that deal could take days to come together and those minutes, hours, days; we understand the real pain that is for families that are depending on those benefits,” explained Gannon. He added that even when SNAP returns, it could take days if not weeks for the benefits to be restored…