As the government shutdown nears 30 days, America’s largest anti-hunger program will lose federal funding.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides benefits for over 40 million Americans who are eligible for the program, which helps users buy food from local grocery stores. The service will lose funding on Saturday.
In a press release on Oct. 23 Gov. Kevin Stitt wrote SNAP has served over 922,000 Oklahomans over the past year, but the state will not be able to continue to fund SNAP if it loses federal funding.
“The governor is demanding reforms to ensure resources are targeted efficiently and the needs of children, seniors, veterans, the disabled, and pregnant women remain front and center,” the release reads.
Nearly all funding for the program comes from the federal government, with the states individually administering the program, according to the release. The release states Stitt directed state leaders to review affected federal programs and identify how they can be funded by the state.
“We won’t stand by while politicians in D.C. jeopardize the well-being of our citizens. It’s time for Oklahoma to step up and lead where Washington fails,” Stitt said in the release.
SNAP provides eligible low-income families with funds for groceries on an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Recipients can also qualify for other food assistance programs based on SNAP eligibility, including free or reduced-price school meals for children.
According to an Oct. 22 Instagram post from Food and Shelter, a Norman-based nonprofit that provides support for individuals experiencing homelessness, food and financial donations to local food centers are needed during the government shutdown to help provide for Oklahoma's residents.
“The federal shutdown is soon going to impact Oklahomans and the thousands of people who rely on SNAP here in our community. It will be people like us who stand with struggling families to ensure no person lives without food here in Norman,” the post read. “Food donations to The Share Center are incredibly needed right now, but financial donations go much further.”
The Share Center at Food and Shelter offers free groceries to residents of Norman, Noble, Lexington or McClain counties facing food insecurity.
Norman Farm Market will allow residents with SNAP and Double Up Oklahoma, a program that matches the value of purchased groceries using SNAP, to use remaining funds at the market on Saturday.
According to a Tuesday Facebook post from Norman Farm Market, local farm cooperative Fresh from OK will also be offering free ground beef on Saturday for the first 40 families with a SNAP card.
Another Norman Farm Market vendor, Laissez Faire Honey Farm, will offer a half pound of honey to the first 24 people with a SNAP card on Saturday.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour and Thomas Pablo. Vanessa Essien and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
