READING, Pa. – Non-profit the Real Deal 610 is following through in the wake of the return of SNAP benefits as they say the need is still great across Berks County.
“We got an abundance of response,” said Seleda Simmons with The Real Deal 610.
Berks County once again answered the call.
“When we first found out that the SNAP benefits were gonna be cut off, we wanted to formulate a preventative strategy,” Simmons said. ” We knew that it was gonna affect a lot of families”.
Anticipating the need during the government shutdown connected to a delay in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits — non-profit The Real Deal 610 organized a county-wide collection for food and other much needed life-sustaining items
“We have diapers. We have baby formula. We have food. We have coats. We have clothes,” Simmons said.
Distribution locations are set up at Tech Centro & The LBGT Center of Greater Reading.
“The community is looking for help and a lot of the organizations utilized are closed,” said Shaykayaria Del Rio Gonzalez with Tec Centro. “This full effort has been absolutely amazing.”
With SNAP benefits now being restored to millions, including about 60,000 people in Berks, Simmons with the Real Deal 610 says people still need help.
“I’m happy that it got back on, even if people that do have their food stamps still need that extra support,” Simmons said.
She says efforts like these help restore faith in the community, regardless of how divided society seems.
“I feel so blessed to be able to experience how people can come together. I can’t express that enough. It’s an exuberating feeling,” Simmons said.