Feeding Alabama prepares to support families during SNAP pause

As the federal government shutdown nears the one-month mark, Feeding Alabama has announced it is working closely with its network of eight food banks and 1,700 partner agencies to ensure that families in need do not go hungry.
The organization said it is preparing to assist individuals who may be affected by a potential pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap”, more than 833,000 Alabamians struggle with hunger, including nearly 250,000 children.
In Jackson County, approximately 10,150 residents, 60 percent of the county’s population, are considered food insecure, meaning they do not know for certain where their next meal will come from, and they are living at 130 percent below the National Poverty Rate.
In an October 28 press release, Feeding Alabama reported that 750,000 residents rely on SNAP for food assistance. In addition, more than 62,000 federal employees living in Alabama may face food insecurity during November as the shutdown continues.
“While we anticipate lines will grow and demand will increase if funding is not restored, we are committed to doing everything we can to ease those burdens,” representatives said in the release.Although no new SNAP benefits will be issued during the funding suspension, individuals can still apply for SNAP, and current recipients must continue to recertify and submit documentation as usual to ensure benefits resume once federal funding is restored.
According to the feedingalabama.org website the following are available in our area:
•St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 402 Scott St. in Scottsboro, distributes food the first Saturday of each month, from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.
•Salvation Army, located at 1501 E. Willow St. in Scottsboro, distributes food Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
•First United Methodist Church, located at 1105 South Broad Street in Scottsboro, distributes dry goods only Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.