At New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, people on government assistance put in volunteer time to maintain their benefits.
Amber Hullet, a single mother of four, is one of them.
“Trying to get a decent job that will actually pay the bills and keep me steady and where I can take care of my children as well, is not an easy task to do,” Hullet said. “So, I have to reach out through the government for help.”
Shawnta Carter is also a single mother relying on help.
“SNAP is the food benefit that helps me feed my child and myself,” Carter said. “And the TANF helps me for things that I can’t buy with the SNAP, cash benefits, gas, essentials around the house.”
Both women and others are concerned after being notified that if the federal government shutdown continues past October 27, Texans receiving SNAP food benefits will not receive their November deposit on their EBT card.
“What am I going to do, is what I thought,” Carter said. “It’s not really fair to us single mothers trying to feed our kids and trying to get by to get better.”
“It’s hard,” Hullett said. “We’re trying to dig ourselves out of a hole that now we feel like there’s no hand up out of it.”
As they work to try to get ahead, they don’t know what they’ll do if their benefits are delayed.
“I guess we’re going to be going to food banks,” Hullett said. “I don’t know how we’re going to really get diapers. I don’t, I mean, they’re saying that they might take the CCMS for the childcare. So then how are we supposed to find a job after that?”
So Hullett sends this plea to the politicians in Washington.
“Look beyond yourselves,” Hullett said. “Look beyond the fight. There’s Americans, real Americans, that are struggling out here.”
The HHSC said Texans who are part of the SNAP program should monitor: YourTexasBenefits.com and hhs.texas.gov for the latest updates.
SNAP participants can also call 2-1-1 for the latest information on benefits and to find alternative food resources from food banks, food pantries and other community resources.