With millions of Americans bracing for the loss of food assistance due to the ongoing federal shutdown, filmmaker and philanthropist Tyler Perry is stepping up to help. The 56-year-old donated nearly $1.4 million to multiple organizations that support families in need, including the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Baby2Baby, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Caring for Others, All for Lunch, the Ron Clark Academy, and Goodr.
“If you’ve never been poor, then you may not fully understand the life-changing impact SNAP benefits mean to hard-working people, to our seniors, and to our children,” Perry said in a statement to People. “For millions of people, it could mean extreme hunger. For newborns, it could mean a lack of access to formula.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned in an Oct. 18 letter that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—which provides low-income families with food support—may run out in November. According to the agency, roughly 42 million Americans depend on the program, and without congressional action, many could lose access to critical resources that help them afford nutritious meals…