The U.S. Department of Agriculture is calling it an \u201cinflection point\u201d in the government shutdown. <\/p>\n
SNAP benefits, also known as \u201cfood stamps,\u201d will not be issued starting on November 1. <\/p>\n
\u201cBy allowing SNAP to lapse, USDA and Congress are opening up the floodgates,\u201d Ann Sanders of Just Harvest said. She and other nonprofit leaders met in Allegheny County, Tuesday. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are going to do everything they can to feed their families and I\u2019m not sure we\u2019ll want to see the kinds of things that they will turn to,\u201d Rev. Dr. Brenda Greg said. She\u2019s the Executive Director of Project Destiny. <\/p>\n
To put it in perspective, 12% of people use SNAP nationwide. Most of our local counties have more than that. In Fayette County, 23% of residents use it. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s already affecting us. We\u2019ve got a lot of people calling asking for food,\u201d Nancy Reed said. She\u2019s the kitchen manager at the East End United Community Center in Uniontown. <\/p>\n
\u201cI put out sweet potatoes, green peppers and canned food. It was gone in half an hour,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The nonprofit served more than 28,000 meals in 2024, says Executive Director Steve Strange. He added that the group is feeling the impact of both the state and federal government budget issues. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe approach we\u2019re taking towards this is we happen to reside as a nonprofit in the most politically divided of the 50 states,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHarrisburg and Washington, Washington especially, need to get together and stop this. It\u2019s time,\u201d Nancy Reed said. <\/p>\n
The community center\u2019s food pantry is the first Wednesday of the month. Strange says they\u2019ll see how that goes and could end up expanding it. <\/p>\n
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