A Monroe County, Michigan, nonprofit says it has seen an uptick in calls from concerned residents after state officials announced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would be temporarily paused beginning in November amid the federal government shutdown.
The Monroe County Opportunity Program aims to reduce poverty. Executive director Stephanie Kasprzak says that 16,000 people in Monroe County receive SNAP. Now their goal is to make sure the community stays fed.
“For many folks, by the time they get to the end of the month, it’s quite tight anyway. And it’s the end of the month now, and it’s feeling very tight, and knowing that next week, Nov 1st, they are not going to get their benefits is even scarier,” Kasprzak said. “What we’re doing right now is working with Gleaners, setting up mobile pantries at the beginning of November.”…