Delmarva prepares for SNAP benefit cuts
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — The government shutdown is in its 29th day, with only three days left before the potential disruption of SNAP benefits. Delaware is moving to secure SNAP funding through November as Maryland food banks prepare for an influx of people in need.
Meg Kimmel, CEO and president of the Maryland Food Bank, said the organization plans to purchase up to $3 million worth of food to ensure that its partners can order and receive purchased food, not donated goods, at no cost. This is in addition to the $1 million the food bank already spends each month. However, Kimmel said even that won’t be enough to meet the anticipated demand.
“To meet even 15% of the need created by the SNAP disruption, we would need to quadruple our output nearly overnight,” Kimmel said.
One in three Maryland residents faces food insecurity, and 680,000 of them currently rely on SNAP benefits. In Delaware, 120,000 residents depend on SNAP, and Gov. Matt Meyer is taking action now to protect them, not in November.
“I’m declaring a state of emergency to fund SNAP benefits on a week-by-week basis starting next week,” Meyer said.
The state is also supporting food banks and pantries. Meyer encouraged Delawareans to donate to local organizations, including the Food Bank of Delaware and neighborhood food pantries, to help those in need.
“If you’re able, we encourage all Delawareans to donate to the Food Bank of Delaware, to community organizations, or your local church or synagogue or mosque food pantry or soup kitchen anywhere folks in your neighborhood receive food assistance,” Meyer said. “This is a time when Delawareans really can come together and help one another.”
Meyer stressed the need for bipartisan cooperation to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected.
“We must work together across party lines to develop responsible solutions that will protect our children, teachers, health care workers, and public safety, as well as the lives and livelihoods of all Delawareans,” Meyer said.
In Maryland, Kimmel urged residents to advocate for continued SNAP funding, as the food bank is uncertain whether it will be able to maintain resources through November.
“If we need to slow down our ordering or speed up our ordering, we can do that in real time,” Kimmel said. “I don’t know if it’ll last the whole month. I just don’t know enough yet. But that is obviously something our sourcing team and operations team, as well as our CFO, will be keeping a close eye on.”
Kimmel emphasized that advocacy is critical in getting the program back up and running.
“That’s where the advocacy piece comes in terms of calling and writing elected officials like we have to get this program back up and running it. I can’t even imagine a future without it,” said Kimmel.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is expected to make an announcement tomorrow regarding state support for Maryland residents affected by the federal suspension of SNAP benefits.
