CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As a federal program that’s helped feed Americans for decades became the latest victim of the federal shutdown Saturday, a local effort worked to make sure the government failure didn’t leave families hungry.
With funding from Mecklenburg County Public Health, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council gave 640 households $50 tokens, one per family, at five area farmers’ market locations as part of a temporary safety net for people impacted by the SNAP benefits freeze. Despite two federal rulings Friday that demanded the government continue funding the former food stamp program, it could take a week or two to resume benefits.
“We’re just trying to get people resources as quickly and as efficiently as we can, and that’s the most important thing,” the council’s chair, Kenya Joseph, said. “This is beyond the political issue and has been from the very start.”…