MOUNT VERNON — Knox County SNAP recipients are at risk of losing their benefits in November if the government shutdown continues.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps low-income Americans buy food. The federal government funds the program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the state administers it through the Department of Job & Family Services.
In Knox County, that means 2,782 households and 5,264 individuals, 12% of the population, risk losing benefits.
Knox County JFS Director Scott Boone said he stays in regular contact with other JFS directors.
He also receives direct updates from JFS advocacy groups, PCSAO (Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio), and OJFSDA (Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association).
“We are collectively doing the best that we can to create momentum that will ultimately benefit the families that we serve on a daily basis,” Boone said.
States send SNAP recipients’ information to an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor. The vendor loads benefits onto an EBT card, which the recipient uses to buy groceries.
Earlier this month, the USDA told states to hold off sending that information to the vendors.
Many lawmakers are calling for the USDA to use a $5 billion contingency fund to cover November’s SNAP benefits. However, Reuters reported on Friday that the USDA will not do so.
According to a USDA memo obtained by Scripps News, the Trump administration states that the contingency fund is designed to cover benefits already appropriated but that are not sufficient in emergencies such as tornadoes or hurricanes.
Government shutdown nears one month
The government shut down on Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on an appropriations bill.
“Unfortunately, we do not have control of the decisions that need to be made very quickly in order for families to avoid an interruption to their benefits,” Boone said.
“I have been keeping the [county] commissioners aware of these events as they occur. They remain completely supportive of our work and continue to help us navigate through this challenging time.”
KCJFS distributed a list of food pantries and hot meal programs to its SNAP recipients as an alternative source of relief.
However, many local food pantries are already feeling a pinch.
Interchurch Social Services was assisting more than 720 families in July and August, prompting Fergus to reduce family food assistance to once a month.
“We still are handling 520 families every month,” she said. “I am prepared to handle my normal amount and can handle some more.”
Fergus said that although community support and the Food for the Hungry drive keep ISS shelves stocked, other pantries struggle.
Local pop-up pantries offer relief to SNAP recipients
Before the shutdown, the Knox County Foundation met with local nonprofits about what could happen if a shutdown occurred.
Lisa Lloyd of the KCF, Austin Swallow with Food for the Hungry, and Carolyn Fergus of Interchurch Social Services brainstormed ways to alleviate local food insecurity.
They came up with the idea of a pop-up pantry. The first pantry is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at Habitat for Humanity, 405 W. Chestnut St.
Knox County families who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive a free box of food. For questions on eligibility, contact Fergus at 740-397-4825.
Individuals or organizations who would like to volunteer to organize and distribute food between 8 am and 1 pm can email Lloyd at lisa@knoxcf.org.
Additional pop-up pantries have not been scheduled, but ISS receives food shipments on Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.
“I have been able to source extra food, but I don’t have a place to store it or distribute it from,” Fergus said. “For the Nov. 1 distribution, we found the Habitat for Humanity Restore building. But I am looking for another building to store it in starting Nov. 6.”
The building must be temperature-controlled: above freezing and under 70 degrees. An empty storefront or a church with a gymnasium would be ideal for storing and distributing the shelf goods.
The Church on the Rise is storing frozen food for the pop-up pantries.
“We’ve been meeting and planning well before the government shut down, and we believe we can do it the whole way through the shutdown and really help alleviate things with more pop-up pantries,” Fergus said.