By Melissa Patrick with Kentucky Health News
Because of the government shutdown, a benefit that helps more than 600,000 Kentucky families put food on the table is set to run out Saturday, Nov. 1.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture website says, “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a federal program that helps roughly one in eight Kentuckians buy groceries each month with prepaid electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.
At an Oct. 20 news conference, Gov. Andy Beshear said the state will not be able to pay for the November SNAP benefits.
“My hope is that either the federal government will find a way to fund SNAP, which I think there is an argument they can even with the government shutdown, or the government will reopen in time for us to process those payments,” he said.
Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to seek out their local food banks for help, but LEX18 reports that the state’s food banks don’t have the inventory to handle the need that will result from the loss of these food benefits.
Not only will this impact families, it will also impact local grocery stores and more, according to a Your Local Epidemiologist newsletter.
“The impact will go far beyond food, too. A 2015 study found that SNAP benefits create ripple effects across the economy, allowing families to pay rent, keep their cars, and cover other essentials — often the very things people sacrifice when food runs short. SNAP helps people move out of poverty,” according to the YLE newsletter.
Here are some ways to help your community, as outlined by Dr. Liz Marnik for YLE:
• Donate money to your local food pantry. Every bit adds up.
• Organize a food drive at your work, school or other community location. Be sure to connect to your local pantry to find out what food items they actually need and can accept.
• Make a meal and deliver it to a family you know is in need.
• Ask your child’s school if you can drop off extra snacks (if they don’t already provide free breakfasts and lunches).
• Volunteer to cook for/at a local community meal.
• Call your representatives and urge them to act on health care and food access.
SNAP benefit updates can be found on the state’s Department for Community-Based Services webpage.
