SNAP Benefits to be Shut Down on November 1st

A federal government shutdown on November 1st will suspend SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for 104,000 Monroe County residents, leaving them without food assistance and putting severe strain on local food pantries.

Bob Boyd, CEO of St. Peter's, said he is noticing a massive increase in people coming for lunch and using the food pantry.

"We're now putting over 400 meals a day into the community," said Boyd. "Just a few months ago, it was 300. You go back just a couple years, it was 100, so we've seen a huge increase in the number of people in need. Our pantry visits have doubled over last year, and a lot of our, most of the people who come to the kitchen are housed, 96% are housed. These are the seniors that, as was mentioned earlier, the working families, people with children, with children with special needs, so their needs keep growing and we keep trying to keep pace with it all."

See the full story on WHAM.