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With the pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning Nov. 1, Shelby County Officials and Central Alabama organizations say there is still food assistance available. And as the federal shutdown presses on, the United States Department of Agriculture says it can’t fund food stamps in November. More than 750,000 Alabamians are set to lose their food assistance in November - barring the release of contingency funds. Shelby County officials, the United Way of Central Alabama and the Community Food Bank say they are working to fill the gaps. “Our team is working closely to support our local non-profits, specifically those who support our most vulnerable population with food insecurities. They are truly on the frontline supporting our residents every day and especially during this time,” Mindy Dent, Shelby County manager of community services, said. About 15% of the state’s population is enrolled in SNAP. Nearly 70% of participants are families with children, about 40% are people with a disability or older adults and more than a third are working families, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “SNAP benefits are 100% federally funded; therefore USDA (FNS) controls the issuance of these benefits on EBT cards,” Alabama DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said. “We know SNAP benefits are vitally important to the more than 750,000 Alabamians who depend on the more than $140 million in support each month. Alabama DHR, along with many others, hopes Congress will come to a quick resolution on the federal government shutdown.” Shelby County resources Shelby County has a list of food assistance resources available on their website including churches, pantries and advocacy organizations. Manna Ministries, based in Alabaster, distributes food via drive-thru service every Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m., including bread, produce, meats, dairy and pastries. They also feed over a thousand families each month in the Chilton, Jefferson and Shelby counties. Grace Klein Community at Hope Mountain Church, based in Calera, provides drive-thru food pick-up on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their food pantry is open each Tuesday from 12 to 2 p.m. The list also includes contact information for Shelby Emergency Assistance for residents seeking help with food, utilities, rent and mortgage payments, medical and dental benefits and transportation. Call 205-665-1942 to learn more. Nonprofit resources across Central Alabama The United Way of Central Alabama is working alongside community partners to help families access food and essential resources across Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties. “When support systems pause unexpectedly, it creates an immediate hardship for families already working hard to make ends meet,” Drew Langloh, president and CEO of United Way of Central Alabama said in a statement. “With strong partnerships and a shared commitment to helping one another, together we can help fill those gaps so families continue to have access to food and other basic necessities.” The United Way says local food assistance providers are preparing for increased requests for help. To meet that need United Way is providing emergency grants through the Community Crisis Fund to local food-assistance partners and community organizations serving affected households. They are also expanding their 211 Call Center by adding more local food banks, pantries and community organizations to the directory of support. The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, which facilitates hundreds of food distributions every day through 300 nonprofit organizations, is also increasing food assistance efforts ahead of the SNAP benefits pause. “We’re prepared to feed people that are not receiving their SNAP benefits,” Nicole Williams, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, said. “Our plan is that we are purchasing additional food and building disaster boxes, and we’re going to be pushing this extra food and boxes out through our network of partners. So if folks are in need of food or they’re not receiving their SNAP benefits, they should go to our website and find a distribution near them.” In 2024, they provided 21 million meals across 12 counties. But Williams said there’s still a need gap of about 25 million meals. Earlier this year, the USDA cuts to food bank programs resulted in the loss of three million pounds of food, about 2.5 million meals that would have gone to families in need in Central Alabama. “So we started the year with less food...Now, due to the government shutdown, there are additional people that are entering the food line that we have to serve,” Williams said. “We are operating as if we’re in a disaster situation right now, putting every bit of resources into additional food out into our network to make sure that people have what they need.” Individuals can still apply for SNAP during the pause. Current recipients must still recertify their benefits, report as they normally would and submit all normal documentation. Anyone experiencing food insecurity, a housing or mental health crisis can call 211 or visit the United Way website to find local food pantries and support services. You can text ALFOOD to 898211 to receive a message with information on accessing local food and other resources based on their ZIP code. Visit the Community Food Bank website to find food assistance resources near you.
