Summit County scrambles to feed 77,000 as SNAP benefits vanish amid government shutdown скачать в хорошем качестве

Summit County scrambles to feed 77,000 as SNAP benefits vanish amid government shutdown

As the government shutdown drags on, panic is setting in for millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, better known as SNAP or food stamps. “We are receiving hundreds of additional calls each day from anxious, fearful and disgruntled individuals who are scared,” said Stephanie Carothers, of Summit County Department of Job and Family Services. In a notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that no SNAP funds will be distributed on November 1, saying “the well has run dry.” “There is no end in sight. Unfortunately, it is just a complete stalemate,” said Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, who serves Ohio District 13. “This means families across Ohio and across the country could see their benefits halted.” This impacts about 1.4 million Ohioans. In Summit County, more than 77,000 residents depend on SNAP benefits to put food on the table. That’s about 13% of the county’s population. On Monday, County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Summit County Council authorized a $250,000 grant to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. “But folks with 77,000 people dependent on SNAP, these meals won't go very far,” said Shapiro. That’s why Shapiro is calling on all 31 communities in the county to step up. “Think about how they can help and what they can do to help us weather this storm,” said Shapiro. Colleen Benson, the Chief Development Officer at the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank stressed that food banks cannot replace the scale of the SNAP program, which she said provided 9 times more meals than all of the country’s food banks last year. “If we think about this government shutdown continuing, would food banks have the resources to provide what the SNAP program does? Not at all,” said Benson. “It is our hope that this will end soon, for the sake of the families who need our network so desperately.” READ MORE: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/loc... At 3News, we’re not here to tell you the news, we’re here to share the stories that you say matter most to you. Share your ideas, thoughts, concerns and engage in conversations about the communities in which we all call home. Follow 3News on Social: Facebook:   / wkyc.channel3   Twitter:   / wkyc   Instagram:   / wkyc3   Visit our site: https://www.wkyc.com/ And be sure to download our app here: https://wkyc.com/app