With the federal government shutdown continuing, the status of the nation’s SNAP benefits remains uncertain. In response, Western North Carolina counties and municipalities, nonprofits and businesses are rallying to find creative ways to meet the needs of food-insecure residents.
A program of the U.S. government, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides monthly payments — averaging over $170 per person per month in Buncombe County — to help low-income residents buy food. Due to the government shutdown, SNAP was suspended on Nov. 1.
After North Carolina joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address the withholding of the critical funding, the government agreed to tap $4.65 billion in contingency funds. SNAP recipients will now receive 50% of their food benefits for November, with payments scheduled to be disbursed the week of Nov. 10…