NORTH CAROLINA — The governor announced Thursday the state, with help from donors and foundations, will give $18 million to food banks statewide, many bracing for an increased demand of food resources this holiday season. It comes as benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is scheduled to end Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.
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“With the help of generous partners, North Carolina is taking action to keep families fed,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a release. “Shoring up our state’s food banks will serve as a critical, but fleeting, lifeline for families in need, and I hope other North Carolina organizations will also step up in this time of need. Whether it’s paying our military, ensuring no child goes hungry, or lowering health care costs, leaders in Washington need to come together immediately to find a bipartisan solution that provides long-term stability for millions of Americans.”
Many states have picked up the bill to continue SNAP benefits after the USDA announced it will not continue to fund the program due to lack of money — nor will it use its $6 billion in contingency funding. The federal government noted it will not reimburse the states that decide to pay benefits during the shutdown, leading others, North Carolina being the latest in the fold, to put funds instead toward organizations that work toward allaying food insecurity.
The state is giving $10 million to food banks across the region, while AmeriHealth Caritas gave $5 million and The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation is accelerating $2.5 million from a previously announced $10 million gift.
Other donors include:
- Duke Energy Foundation: $100,000
- Bank of America: $100,000
- Delaware North and Catawba Two Kings Casino: $50,000
- Nucor Steel: $50,000
- UNC Health Foundation & UNC Horizons: $30,000
- The Fresh Market: $25,000
- Eastern Ministerial Alliance: $20,000
- Smithfield Foods: $20,000
- AdventHealth: $19,000
- Compare Foods: $10,000
- Lending Tree: $7,500
- Smart Food Foundation: 10,000 pounds of food
SNAP’s expiration will affect 1.4 million people across North Carolina, with four in every five being a child, senior or person with a disability. It costs upward of $250 million monthly to maintain the SNAP benefits in North Carolina and for every one meal served at a food bank, nine are provided through the food stamps program.
A spokesperson for Wilmington’s Market on Greenfield Street, run by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, told Port City Daily earlier this week it’s experienced a 50% increase of service needs since mid-summer.
“Our hunger relief network is working tirelessly to meet the increased need, with hundreds of partner pantries and thousands of volunteers stepping up to help,” CEO of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC Amy Beros said. “But we know emergency food programs can’t replace the impact of federal nutrition assistance. SNAP remains the most effective tool in fighting hunger and poverty nationwide. We need swift action to ensure this critical support continues uninterrupted for those who need it most. Every day of delay means more empty plates and tougher choices for our neighbors.”
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