Government shutdown forcing program participants, others to seek new options locally
By DONNA THORNTON, Editor
Guidance came Oct. 24 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services to the Alabama Department of Human Resources: Effective Nov. 1, FNS is suspending all November 2025 benefit allotments until federal funding is provided, or FNS directs state agencies otherwise.
People participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can use benefits issued to their electronic benefit transfer cards prior to Nov. 1, but no new benefits will be issued.
According to DHR, SNAP benefits are vitally important to more than 750,000 Alabamians who depend on more than $140 million in support each month.
The culprit is the government shutdown, and there is some effort to restore the benefits, even without a resolution to the shutdown. Sen. Katie Britt threw support this week to the Keep SNAP Funded Act, which would appropriate funds needed to provide uninterrupted benefits.
That’s in the halls of Congress. Closer to home, Linda Henry is expecting a potential flood of people in Marshall County who will need food assistance, and she is hoping for help from the community to try to meet those needs.
As Executive Director of Marshall County Christian Services, Henry saw about 500 families seeking assistance last week. “That influx has about tripled,” she said, from a typical week. She said she had a couple of calls last week from people furloughed from Redstone Arsenal, in need of help to feed their families and still pay other bills.
“People don’t have savings built up for more than a month or so,” she said.
That leaves an agency like MCCS looking at what it’s got, and what it knows will be needed.
Henry said she got a load from USDA Oct. 27 and was able to buy at the food bank in Birmingham this week – spending $527 for right at 4,000 pounds of food, including 600 pounds of meat, 17 cases of pasta sauce 17 cases of applesauce, 17 cases of a variety of beans, pasta, and other food staples.
Still, she said, on Oct. 28 there was not one box of cereal on the shelves, and two cases of peanut butter. She said she had raisins, but “I don’t know of a kid who eats raisins.”
Henry said she’s talked to the board of directors; MMCS guidelines allow people to get assistance once a month, but if other benefits are suspended and federal workers are furloughed, that’s going to leave people hungry.
“We’re going to have to adapt to the need,” Henry said, and it’s going to take a lot more in donations of food or money to do it.
“It’s breaking my heart. I have a veteran with PTSD. He’s got six kids,” she said, and that’s just one family in need.
You’d need three cans of a food item to feed a family of six, Henry said. Though 17 cases of beans – with 12 cans per case — sounds like a lot, it won’t last long feeding 500 families.
Many holiday food drives are underway or will be soon. Many churches and organizations routinely collect food for families during the holiday season.
All the county Foodland stores have a Community Food Drive in November, allowing MMCS and other food pantries come into stores to collect food or money. Boaz and Albertville Foodland MMCS’s Cahill Drive center, the Arab store gives to an Arab-based MCCS ministry, Guntersville gives to the Catholic center, and Douglas Foodland works with the Eagle’s Nest.
Henry said local schools have sometimes held food drives, making it a contest among students, but those have dwindled over the years.
Those drives were a great resource for the holiday season, she recalled.
Now, Henry said, the suspension of benefits is expected to create greater need before those holiday donations come in.
The MCCS and other agencies that serve people in times of food insecurity, Henry hopes people will think of the impact loss of benefits and loss of salary have on local families and respond generously.
Any schools, civic clubs, businesses, churches or individuals are encouraged to contact MCCS about donating.
Food donations are welcome, Henry said and cash donations may go even farther because MCCS can shop for a discount through the food bank. Recently the food bank has had less food available, she said, which means more must be bought at stores where costs are higher.
Here is a list of food resources in Marshall County:
Marshall County Christian Services
217 South Cahill Road
Albertville
256-891-2430
Website
Directions – Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., bring photo ID, serves Marshall County residents.
Life Point Church
700 Motley St.
Albertville
256-891-5252
Website
Directions – Food pantry is every Monday 11 a.m., must call that morning between 9 a.m.-10 a.m. for an appointment. Soup kitchen is Sunday (5 pm.) and Wednesday (6 p.m.), everyone welcome.
Christ Episcopal
607 East Main Street
Albertville
Directions – 3rd Saturdays from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. For emergency food boxes, call 256-878- 3243 on Tues., Wed., or Thurs. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Church of God of Union Assembly
1 Chloris Street
Albertville
Directions – Drive-thru food distribution every Thursday 5:30 p.m.-6:30 pm., bring Photo ID. May pick up once per month.
Julia Street Congregational Methodist
302 Thomas Ave.
Boaz
256-593-3412
Directions – 3rd Saturday of each month, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Se habla español.
Marshall County Hope Center
1910 Gunter Ave.
Guntersville
Directions – Drive-thru food distribution the first and third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., located at Real Church
St. Vincent De Paul
929 Gunter Ave.
Guntersville
(256)582-4245 (ext. 118)
Directions – Tuesdays 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Bring proof of address. May receive food assistance once every two months.
Se habla español.
