Fulton approves funds to help with loss of SNAP benefits

Key Points Fulton commissioners allocated to help fund county residents who may not receive SNAP benefits during the governing body shutdown The funds will go to existing nonprofit partners and senior nutrition programs The Locality Assistance Center s smaller food pantry at Northwood Drive is one of various area food pantries preparing to serve families who depend on SNAP benefits Photo by Bob Pepalis Credit Bob Pepalis Fulton County Commissioners authorized for nonprofit organizations and senior nutrition programs as a response to the loss of SNAP benefits for county residents The county s funding is intended to help fill the gap for the more than residents whose benefits were in jeopardy During the Nov meeting Commission Chair Robb Pitts announced the funding amount was calculated based on input from staff Chief Operating Officer Pamela Roshell revealed nine nonprofits chosen to get funds have existing contracts with Fulton County The Population Progress Department awarded more than million in funding One of the categories was economic insecurity which includes food insecurity The nine organizations fit that category What we did is we went back to the applications that were only for food insecurity and looked at what they originally requested Roshell disclosed Those nine organizations originally requested and we awarded those nine organizations and so the difference is the Three other organizations Winter Farmers Markets Nutritional Assistance Operation and Home Deliver Meals will get each Related Stories Delays likely for distribution of governing body food benefits to the hungry Metro Atlanta food banks brace for gaps in SNAP benefits Solidarity Sandy Springs provides more than million pounds of food annually Winters Farmers Sector provides seasonal fruits and vegetables to local residents The Nutritional Assistance Operation allows registered seniors who receive SNAP benefits to get a to-go meal at no cost when purchasing a meal at regular cost at any Fulton County Senior Multipurpose Center andHome Delivered Meals which provides free meals that cover dietary requirements to eligible Fulton County seniors who are years old and older The resolution also directed the county s Finance and Masses Works departments to stop terminating water services of any residential customers due to nonpayment It set the timeframe from Nov through Dec or when the federal shutdown ends Before two federal judges ordered the USDA to use reserve funds for the SNAP venture the Georgia Department of Human Services revealed that November benefits would not be sent until federal funding was approved through congressional action The USDA announced the billion available in reserves would only fund half a month of benefits A resolution introduced by Commissioner Dana Barrett would have enabled County Manager Dick Anderson to use up to million of county funds to ease food insecurity caused by the suspension of SNAP benefits Anderson would be responsible for identifying effective strategies partner organizations and deposit allocations to accomplish this Barrett s motion to allocate up to million failed and the resolution proposed by Pitts to allocate was approved Pitt reported that staff could ask the commissioners if they thought more funding was necessary Solidarity adds senior pop-up domain As the commission was voting to allocate funds to ease food insecurity Solidarity Sandy Springs planned an additional pop-up food sphere at the Dorothy Benson Senior Center to help seniors After a conversation with our friends at the Dorothy Benson Senior Center we have decided to double down to help make sure our senior neighbors have plenty in their pantries No one necessities to suffer in silence especially when it comes to hunger a message by Solidarity Sandy Springs reported The pop-up field starts at a m on Friday Nov at the senior center Vernon Woods Drive NE in Sandy Springs Solidarity will bring fresh produce The nonprofit organization required population members to help with the pantry staples including canned tuna chicken peanut butter jelly dried or canned beans canned fruit and veggies low sugar and low sodium protein bars breakfast cereal small to medium boxes soup Donations can be dropped off Monday through Saturday from to a m at Solidarity s food pantry in the Sandy Springs Plaza at Roswell Road Monetary donations can be made online in addition to dropping off food The post Fulton approves funds to help with loss of SNAP benefits appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta