MARION COUNTY, Ore. — With the federal government’s looming pause on SNAP benefits set to take effect on November 1 because of the federal government shutdown, the Marion County Board of Commissioners met last night to discuss how the County can support food-insecure people in the community.
Marion County Finding Ways To Supplement SNAP Benefits
Although Marion County’s WIC supplemental nutrition program for mothers, infants, and children remains open and funded through November, the commissioners are discussing strategies to provide a stopgap measure to address the shortage of federal SNAP benefits funding.
Under discussion was the allocation of $100,000 in economic development dollars over the next two weeks to fund additional food baskets in partnership with local food shares.
This could supplement an estimated 300,000 meals per week by purchasing in bulk at food-share rates. County residents who qualify for SNAP benefits could get food through this strategy…