SNAP benefits cut off during shutdown, driving long lines at food pantries

By Susan Haigh and Dylan Lovan The Associated Press LOUISVILLE Ky People across the country formed long lines for free meals and groceries at food pantries and drive-through giveaways Saturday after monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Venture or SNAP were suddenly cut off because of the ongoing establishment shutdown In the New York borough of the Bronx about more people than usual exhibited up at the World of Life Christian Fellowship International pantry numerous bundled in winter hats and coats and pushing collapsible shopping carts as they waited in a line that spanned multiple city blocks Particular arrived as early as a m to choose from pallets of fruits vegetables bread milk juice dry goods and prepared sandwiches Mary Martin who assistants at the pantry also relies on it regularly for food to supplement her SNAP payments She announced she usually splits her roughly a month in SNAP benefits between herself and her two adult sons one of whom has six children and is especially dependent on the assistance If I didn t have the pantry to come to I don t know how we would make it Martin stated I m not gonna see my grandkids suffer The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold payments to the food venture starting Saturday until two federal judges ordered the administration to make them However it was unclear as to when the debit cards that beneficiaries use could be reloaded after the ruling sparking fear and confusion among plenty of recipients In an apparent response to President Donald Trump who commented he would provide the money but wished more legal direction from the court U S District Judge John J McConnell in Rhode Island ordered the regime to account back by Monday on how it would fund SNAP accounts McConnell who was nominated by President Barack Obama commented the Trump administration must either make a full payment by that day or if it decides to tap billion in a contingency fund figure out how to do that by Wednesday The delay in SNAP payments a major piece of the nation s social safety net that serves about million people has highlighted the financial vulnerabilities that multiple face At the Bronx food pantry the Rev John Udo-Okon reported people from all walks of life are seeking help now The pantry is no longer for the poor for the elderly for the needy The pantry now is for the whole society everybody Udo-Okon declared You see people will drive in their car and come and park and wait to see if they can get food In Austell Georgia people in hundreds of cars in drive-through lanes picked up nonperishable and perishable bags of food Must Ministries stated it handed out food to about people more than a typical bimonthly food delivery Families in line declared they worried about not getting SNAP benefits in time for Thanksgiving At a drive-through food giveaway at the Calvary Baptist Church in Louisville Kentucky SNAP recipient James Jackson disclosed he is frustrated that people are being hurt by decisions made in Washington and lawmakers should try harder to understand challenges brought by poverty and food insecurity If you ve never been poor you don t know what it is to be poor Jackson commented I hope that it turns around I hope that people get their SNAP benefits and I hope we just come together where we can love each other and feed each other and help each other While there is typically a long line for Calvary Baptist Church s drive-through events the Rev Samuel L Whitlow disclosed the walk-in food pantry has seen increased demand in the past few days with roughly additional people showing up this week Related Articles Administration shutdown threatens to delay home heating aid for millions of low-income families Denver food halls start donation drive for SNAP recipients Coloradans scramble for help as SNAP suspension looms and food banks just don t have enough Older Coloradans and rural residents face bigger robustness insurance price hikes Metro Denver ballots include housing measures tax questions and charter changes plus a little sex appeal And in Norwich Connecticut the St Vincent De Paul soup kitchen and food pantry had extra helpers working Saturday to help a wave of expected newcomers making sure they felt peaceful and understood the services available Besides groceries and hot meals the site was providing pet food toiletries and blood pressure checks They re embarrassed They have shame So you have to deal with that as well director Jill Corbin explained But we do our best to just try to welcome people Haigh communicated from Norwich Connecticut Associated Press photographer Mike Stewart in Austell Georgia contributed Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter