ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The deadline is ticking for the federal government to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, considered the nation’s largest meal assistance program.
If there’s no agreement to fund SNAP by Saturday, Nov. 1, amid the government shutdown, benefits will be on pause for around 42 million Americans. Foodlink, the Rochester-based regional foodbank that supports meal programs across the 10-county region, says it has been preparing for weeks for an increase in demand.
“The impact of Foodlink and food banks around the country pales in comparison to what SNAP provides to people nationwide,” Foodlink Communications Director Mark Dwyer said. “They say SNAP provides about 9 or 10 times the amount of meals that food banks all across the country do to the community.”…