Unless the ongoing government shutdown ends or Congress otherwise intervenes, over 42,000,000 low income Americans will lose their benefits through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as the food stamp program, which is administered by the USDA.
Earlier this month, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November, stating that the program will run out of money in two weeks if benefits are processed. Politics and possible contingency funding solutions aside, the fallout from the potential suspension of SNAP benefits could be significant for communities throughout the country.
And Coffee County is no different.
Food banks and other such charitable organizations are bracing for a significant increase in demand for groceries if nothing changes. Yesterday, the Coffee County Food Bank, located at 611 West Baker Highway in Douglas, released a statement emphasizing its commitment to helping those in Coffee County who need groceries while also asking for the public’s assistance as demand potentially increases over the next few weeks and months. “We are committed to helping those in need. At Coffee County Food Bank, our mission remains unchanged – dedicated to assisting those in need while sharing the hope we find in Christ,” reads the statement.
The food bank is also seeking donations of non-perishable food items as well as financial donations. The food bank purchases food for pennies on the dollar and stretches every donation as far as it will go. Financial donations, even the smallest ones, go a long way toward feeding people in Coffee County.
The local food bank is expecting more traffic than usual if SNAP is suspended Saturday. They have the volunteers in place. They have the infrastructure to handle a spike in demand. They just need the food to help meet those needs. Visit the food bank’s Facebook page for more information.