BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — As the government shutdown continues, several states including New York are warning they may have to suspend SNAP benefits at the start of November. Thousands of Western New Yorkers could temporarily lose their found assistance.
The federal government shutdown is now in its fourth week and with no end in sight many services funded by those in Washington are at risk of being paused. One of those is the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
“We know that there is a lot of uncertainty,” said Catherine Schick, the public relations manager at FeedMore Western New York. “There is an incredible need right now in Western New York and want to make sure that we are always doing what we can to help serve the community.”
On top of the uncertainty, Schick emphasized the timing of this shutdown is also a struggle.
“People are spending more on utilities to heat their homes, to turn the lights on in their home, to use those utilities longer than they might have during the summer months,” said Schick. “We also know that the holidays can bring on additional expenses, so this does become a time of year regularly where a lot of people are in need of food assistance.”
Last year alone, Feedmore Western New York assisted 166 thousand individuals, a 16 percent increase from the year before. Schick said now, more than ever, they need more volunteers and donations from the community.
Local nonprofits who work to help those in need echoed her claims. The Buffalo City Mission sent the following statement:
“Thank you for covering this critical issue. To be clear, a potential halt to SNAP benefits would be a devastating blow to the most vulnerable members of our community. The Buffalo City Mission, like other local food pantries, is already facing record-high demand. A sudden stop in SNAP benefits would create a perfect storm. It would mean thousands of families, seniors, and children who normally rely on that assistance will be forced to turn to emergency food providers, many for the very first time. This would put a large strain on an emergency food system that is already stretched thin. We are one of the community’s safety nets, and we are preparing now to meet this potential surge. Our doors will stay open, and we will do everything in our power to ensure no one in our city goes hungry. But we cannot do it alone. This potential crisis highlights just how many of our neighbors are living on the edge. We and other pantries and food service organizations will need the full support of our community—through food donations, financial contributions, and volunteers—to weather this. We also pray that our government leaders can find a swift solution to prevent this from happening.”
Friends of Night People also provided a statement you can read below:
“Many people are a single missed paycheck away from needing support, and Friends of Night People is here to help anyone in need of food assistance with meals 7 days a week that include breakfast Monday thru Friday from 9-11AM and dinner daily from 5 to 7PM. During September, FONP served 7,148 meals. 21,053 during the past three months. WNY’s local soup kitchens and food pantries we know will continue serving their communities, but meeting this increased demand will require additional community support, donations, and volunteers.”
For more information on how you can receive assistance from Feedmore Western New York click here.
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Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.
