South Carolina has activated its emergency disaster relief fund and called in the State Guard to support food banks. The state is preparing for an expected increase in food insecurity. This action follows the announcement that federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will stop on November 1, 2025, if the federal government shutdown continues. SNAP currently supports over 556,000 low-income residents. The Department of Social Services (DSS) stated that any remaining funds on SNAP debit cards from previous months will still be available. However, no new benefits will be distributed for November unless Congress acts.
The One SC Fund, managed by the Central Carolina Community Foundation, is now accepting donations to help restock food banks. The fund has previously raised up to $6 million after disasters such as Tropical Storm Helene. It is now being used to help offset the loss of $104 million in monthly SNAP benefits. State officials, including Governor Henry McMaster and DSS Director Tony Catone, have said that state efforts cannot fully replace the federal program. About 70% of SNAP recipients in South Carolina are children or elderly.
Food banks in South Carolina are already experiencing higher demand, which usually increases during the holiday season. Leaders from food banks such as Harvest Hope and Lowcountry Food Bank report that the loss of SNAP benefits and the impact on unpaid federal workers are straining their resources. On Monday, the Harvest Hope pantry in Columbia had lines forming early in the morning. By the afternoon, shelves were empty and some families could not be served…