The maximum snap benefits that started in March of 2020 to aid those struggling to buy groceries during the pandemic has ended today (March 1st 2023). How the loss of these benefits are impacting the CNY Community.
Syracuse N.Y. – The shelves in many food pantries are full right now, but soon these pantries across Syracuse are expecting to hand out much more food than usual. With the maximum benefits of SNAP coming to an end today, many low income families will to turn to pantries for necessary groceries.
“I would imagine that this will increase our numbers by another hundred to one hundred fifty families that we will see each week,” said Chris Honess, the pastor at The Vineyard Food Pantry near the fairgrounds,
The extra benefits of SNAP started three years ago to give aid to low income families when buying groceries. However, starting today drastic cuts have been made per household. Some families could loose up to $95 per month as the SNAP benefit program comes to a close, this could make it harder for over 30 million Americans to put food on the table. This will make food pantry’s role starts to take on a bigger responsibility. Pam O’Malley the director at the Fayetteville Manlius food pantry realizes just how pricey it is to grocery shop today because of inflation.
“I think people will be coming up short again especially with food prices being higher,” said Pam O’Malley the Director at the FM Food Pantry.
Many low-income families will start to loose this support. The Vineyard Church Food Pantry said this should be alarming to the entire Syracuse Community because everyone will be impacted.
“This is something that is elemental, if you don’t have food, you’re not going to learn, and the poverty cycle goes over and over again,” said Honess.
So as food pantries like Vineyard and Fayetteville Manlius work to increase their supply they ask anyone who can give to do so.
Transcript
(Walker)
These shelves are full now but food pantries across Syracuse are expecting to hand out much more food than usual.. With the maximum benefits of SNAP coming to an end today.. many low income families will to turn to pantries for necessary groceries… The Vineyard Food Pantry near the fairgrounds.. says they’re preparing to see many more faces…(Chris)
I would imagine that this will increase our numbers by another hundred to on hundred fifty families that we will see each week.(Walker)
The benefits of SNAP started three years ago to give extra help to low income families in buying groceries.. but starting today drastic cuts will be made…Some Families could loose up to 95 dollars pre month as the SNAP benefit program comes to a close, this making it harder for over 30 million Americans to put food on the Shelf.
So while this will make food pantries role more challenging… Pam O’Malley the director at the Fayetteville Manlius food pantry realizes just how pricey it is to grocery shop today…
(Pam)
I think people will be coming up short again especially with food prices being higher.(Walker)
So as many low-income families start to loose this support the… Vineyard Church Food Pantry says this should be alarming to the entire Syracuse Community because everyone will be impacted(Chris)
This is something that is elemental, if you don’t have food, you’re not going to learn, and the poverty cycle goes over and over again.(Walker)
So as food pantries like Vineyard and Fayetteville Manlius work to increase their supply they ask anyone who can give to do so.