The Washington County Board approved $250,000 in one-time funding late last week for 10 area food shelves in response to an anticipated disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this month.
Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced earlier last week that SNAP benefits would not be distributed for November, leaving more than 5,000 Washington County families at risk of increased food insecurity.
The County Board’s Oct. 30 decision came at a special meeting to discuss financial assistance for area food shelves if SNAP benefits were not issued beginning Nov. 4.
The Trump Administration, meanwhile, said Monday that it would restart SNAP food benefits but will pay out only half the amount people normally get.
The administration said it will use money from an Agriculture Department contingency fund.
These announcements followed two federal judges’ rulings in October ordering the administration last week to resume SNAP funding.
With the County Board’s action, the $250,000 will go directly to local food shelves, many which have already reported increased strain on their resources.
“While this is a challenging moment, it’s also our opportunity to demonstrate our county’s ability to respond quickly and compassionately,” Washington County Board Chair Stan Karwoski said in a press release.
Direct assistance to food shelves will also allow them to use the funding for other needs, such as food-distribution equipment, food card purchases, culturally relevant food support, staff time and volunteer coordination, and transportation.
The county will offer these food shelves the following amounts:
Open Cupboard – $75,000
Basic Needs – $37,500
Valley Outreach – $37,500
Family Pathways – $37,500
Friends in Need – $18,750
Hugo Good Neighbors – $18,750
St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center – $6,250
Community Helping Hands – $6,250
Mahtomedi Area Food Shelf – $6,250
Scandia Marine Food Shelf (Elim Lutheran Church) – $6,250
The allocations were determined based on organization size, traffic volume, communities nearby, and proximity to the households of SNAP recipients.
In Minnesota, county governments act as administrative agents of the state and federal government to process SNAP applications and determine eligibility.
