With the federal government shutdown still ongoing, a vital food program is set to run out.

According to the Trump Administration, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will halt funding beginning tomorrow, if the federal government shutdown does not end. Greene County New Opportunities Coordinator Teresa Lansman says there have been several calls to her office asking about the local food pantries in the county as she shares about how much local impact could be from the individuals and households that depend on SNAP and who utilizes New Opportunities programs.

“It is probably going to affect, I would say, a third to a half of our clientele that might feel the pressures of the food stamps. And even once that gets up and running again, they’re trying to catch back uo.”

Lansman points out that with the US Department of Agriculture being shut down, it has been difficult to direct their clients that use SNAP for additional resources. She advocates for SNAP recipients to contact their legislators and tell them how important the program is for them. Lansman offers another service, the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program, as a way to help in the interim and possibly beyond.

“The WIC program, they can continue to serve families. So if younger families have younger kids and aren’t signed up for WIC, we have been directing some to them, to try to call and get set up on that program, so they can be receiving some sort of help.” 

Click here to find out more information about WIC through New Opportunities.