Food banks, public officials gear up as ‘devastating’ SNAP benefits cut off approaches

Across Massachusetts food aid organizations and citizens personnel are stocking up materials and calling for donations as the state s over million SNAP recipients barrel towards the end of their funding on Nov aiming to do their best to meet an impossible dilemma SNAP is our nation s best defense against hunger the Greater Boston Food Bank GBFB stated There is no way our charitable food configuration here in Massachusetts can provide enough food to replace this essential undertaking It s an impossible task both financially and logistically Amid the ongoing federal regime shutdown the Trump administration released it will not distribute monthly SNAP benefits on Nov The stoppage of the food aid benefits is unprecedented SNAP benefits have never been cut off during previous governing body shutdowns Massachusetts receives over million every month in SNAP benefits to distribute to over million recipients according to state leaders Recipients are are children seniors and people with disabilities SNAP funding makes up of every spent in Massachusetts grocery stores supporting the state s economic system according to the GBFB If benefits are cut off the organization reported they anticipate up to million additional meal requests in November alone more than four times what food banks across the system at this moment distribute Hunger is not a matter that philanthropy alone can solve but for those who are able and inclined to provide financial backing giving to food banks is one way people can help commented GBFB GBFB and our food distribution partners here in Eastern Massachusetts are here to help We have a very durable organization of food pantries and meal programs that will do everything we can to provide as much healthy food as accomplishable to our neighbors in this time of great need La Colaborativa a nonprofit organization in Chelsea announced they opened their food pantry on Saturday for just and a half hours and had over people show up The organization called the upcoming SNAP cut devastating especially to veterans seniors and mixed-status families Our organization is doing everything doable to prepare for this moment but we cannot do it alone noted La Colaborativa President Gladys Vega We need a collective commitment from the establishment businesses and the broader public to ensure that every person in Massachusetts has access to basic nutrition and dignity In the face of the SNAP benefits end United Way has partnered with state authorities to mitigate impacts from federal delays The United Way locations across Massachusetts have set up a United Response Fund to rapidly respond to the emergency noting they are state s largest anti-hunger operation serving over million people The Massachusetts Salvation Army commented they anticipate an demand will continue increasing through the end of and into and called on anyone able to continue to patronage life-changing services to our neighbors in need Project Bread has a launched Food Source Hotline - - - running during the authorities shutdown for residents facing hunger The hotline can provide information about local food guidance and put residents in touch with a Project Bread counselor Project Bread is hearing from more and more of these families every day mentioned Erin McAleer president of Project Bread They are calling us because they are consumed with worry about having enough to eat Choosing not to continue SNAP is an act of cruelty that puts politics above people It is not negligence it is deliberate and willful damage to those who are already struggling to make ends meet Numerous organizations with the Make Hunger History Coalition along with AG Andrea Campbell organized a rally calling on sponsorship amid the threat to SNAP benefits on the State House attempts Tuesday This situation is fluid but as it stands in the modern day The Trump Administration should act directly to fully fund SNAP for November USDA has emergency funds intended for this exact situation the coalition led by Project Bread wrote Monday If the federal regime fails to do this promptly then Massachusetts must step up and tap the estimated billion Rainy Day Fund or other state support to fund SNAP in November The Trump s administration has rejected the idea of using a few billion in contingency money to keep providing the federal cash for food saying that reserve is limited to expenses such as help after disasters The Feds posted a notice over the weekend alerting functionaries that if the shutdown does not end it will not distribute benefits on Nov Leaders across the state called the decision to end SNAP benefits appalling a long-term robustness predicament and purposeful cruelty following the announcement last week City officers also moved to feed those in need on a local level Both the city of Lawrence and Methuen launched food drives in response to the SNAP threat calling on residents to assistance your neighbors The federal executive shutdown may be a partisan political issue but its effect on the ground here in Methuen is not stated Methuen Mayor David Beauregard We have families and neighbors who are going to go hungry and our city cabinet will not stand idly by while that happens The Methuen Cares Food Drive began collecting donations at eight locations and city leaders stated food distribution will begin on Nov at the Methuen Senior Center Likewise Lawrence called for donations to the Citywide Exigency Food and Goods Drive at Broadway with Mayor Brian DePe a noting the city has unfailingly risen to the challenge Related Articles Letters to the editor Trump administration posts notice that no federal food aid will go out Nov Ticker Boeing strikers reject offer Hormel recalls million pounds chicken Feds confirm No food aid Nov Massachusetts agency s partisan SNAP blame tournament ripped as Rep Clark calls it leverage In Boston Mayor Michelle Wu explained the city is planning for the really serious additional weight on so multiple families There s a lot of planning going on to see what we can do to try to fill in selected of the gaps at least on a temporary basis Wu explained at an unrelated event Monday calling on residents to hold the Trump administration accountable But this is part of the function of the federal cabinet we have relied on for decades and decades as a guarantee that an American in the United States of America at present should be able to feed their family and have supports when you need it Residents line up at the La Colaborativa food pantry on Saturday Photo courtesy of La Colaborativa