When the federal government shut down at the beginning of October, the expected complications arose — from federal employees not being paid to the National Park Service losing funding and longer wait times at airports due to reduced TSA staffing.
Now, the national impacts are becoming local. Because of the lack of federal funding, food stamp and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be renewed in November.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 41.7 million Americans use SNAP benefits nationwide. In Missouri, nearly 12% of the population relies on the program for food assistance.
The Second Harvest Food Bank, based in St. Joseph, is taking steps to help affected households in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. CEO Chad Higdon said the situation presents challenges as families brace for the loss of benefits.
“Times like this are tricky,” Higdon said. “We’ve already been in contact with local agencies and families who’ve been notified that their EBT cards will not be funded in November.”
However, Higdon said there may be light on the horizon. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley recently introduced legislation that would fund SNAP and other USDA programs even if the shutdown continues.
“We’ve been staying in touch with our elected officials,” Higdon said. “Senator Hawley introduced legislation this week that would help maintain critical programs like SNAP if the shutdown is prolonged.”
More information is available on the Second Harvest Food Bank website at www.shcfb.org or by calling 816-364-3663.
