Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A federal judge has ordered food stamp benefits to be fully restored this month.
This follows after the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri announced Thursday they have seen a surge of families in need following the longest government shutdown in history, and they’re working overtime to keep up. The organization said they’ve seen an increase in demand across its 32-county service area.
Despite the U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s ruling, many beneficiaries may still have to wait a few days to receive their assistance, according to reporting from CNN. Each month, states send food stamp recipients’ information to vendors so funds can be loaded onto benefit cards, a process that often begins days or even weeks before the new month. These steps must be completed before benefits can be reinstated.
McConnell ruled that the government must use extra money the USDA has set aside so that people can get their full SNAP benefits, national reporting indicates. The judge also said the money has to be sent to the states, which actually run the program by Friday.
On Thursday, community members gathered at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia to hand out food to families affected by the shutdown. Volunteers said this effort is part of a growing push to support those struggling with food insecurity as federal assistance programs remain on hold.
The church served more than 70 people, delivering meals to the homeless while others stopped by to pick up their food.
“We understand that everybody can’t get to us, and so we want to make sure that we get food to them because if you’re going to solve or help with eating, you can’t just feed the folks that can come to you,” Anthony Woods, pastor at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, said.
On the menu at Thursday’s meal included spaghetti, garlic bread and salad.
“We’re just offering meals to the community, doing our part as a church, as entrepreneurs in this community, as dads, as uncles, as just role models in this community. Just stepping up and doing what we got to do to support our community,” Daniel Edwards, a deacon at the church, said.
The church plans to continue serving free meals every Thursday — even as SNAP benefits are expected to return — throughout the shutdown to make sure families have somewhere to turn.
“We’re not going to stop,” Woods said. “We put it out there for the next three weeks, and we’re going to do what we’re supposed to do.”
Upcoming menu for every Thursday for the month of November.
“I think the greatest reward ever is when you’re able to lend a helping hand to somebody along the way. The truth of the matter is, we’re all one paycheck, one issue, one incident away from having a nightmare or crisis in our own lives,” Woods said.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said on Thursday afternoon that he doesn’t want anyone to go hungry.
“There’s no reason why almost a million people in Missouri, 12% of Missourians who get federal food assistance should be going hungry,” Hawley said.
According to the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, food insecurity across the state is at its highest point in nearly a decade. Hawley tells ABC 17 News he’s introduced legislation to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which he says has bipartisan support.
The Columbia Food Bank reports serving more than 12,000 people last month, with nearly 600 of them seeking help for the first time. But as demand grows, resources continue to shrink.
The organization said high food and transportation costs, fewer donations, and lower USDA food supplies have made keeping shelves stocked harder than ever. General food purchases have increased by more than 157% compared to this time last year, a sign of how much harder it’s become to meet the growing need.
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