UPDATE 10 a.m. — According to the Wilmington Police Department, some people waiting for DSNAP benefits this morning may have been erroneously told there was an 800-person daily cap. WPD now says the county-run operation will be open until 5 p.m.
“I’m not sure the message was completely coordinated,” WPD spokesperson Linda Rawley said. “But that’s the number we were initially told this morning.”
Rawley said that whatever the initial confusion, the DSNAP program will be open until 5 p.m.
New Hanover County spokesperson Ruth Ravitz-Smith said the program had no numerical limit to the number of people it could see. Spokesperson Jessica Loeper also confirmed the program was moving people through the line quickly.
WILMINGTON — New Hanover County’s disaster food stamp program hit its daily limit before 8 a.m., with a line of nearly 1,000 people in the Independence Mall parking lot.
The New Hanover County Department of Social Services (DSS) will be administering the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assitance Program (DSNAP) into next week, but on opening day people are already being told the program has hit its daily limit.
New Hanover County resident Rachel Beverly said she woke up early and took an Uber to wait in line outside the Independence Mall. Shortly before 8 a.m. she said she was turned away. Beverly, and several others in line this morning, submitted photos but state and FEMA regulations prohibit publishing photos of those applying for benefits.
Despite rumors that Wilmington Police Department officers were “turning people away,” spokesperson Linda Rawley said FEMA regulations prohibit that. Rawley confirmed that over 100 people were in line by 7:30 a.m., with many more showing up within an hour.
“We’re not turning people away, FEMA won’t allow that — people can wait all day but the program can only see 800 people a day,” Rawley said. “But our officers aren’t turning people away, they’re actually handing out water.”
Rawley said that people should attempt to try again on Saturday or next week.
DSS will be administering disaster food stamps at Sears for New Hanover County residents beginning today. Proof of residency will be needed, but a photo ID is not required.
The program will be open this Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Next week, the program will be open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, October 1 -5. On Wednesday, October 3, the program will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Wed), and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sat).
More details are available here.
The DSNAP program is based out of the Sears in the Independence Mall, located at 3500 Oleander Drive in Wilmington.
