Heart of Alabama Food Bank feels effects of federal government shutdown
The ongoing federal government shutdown is having effects on the Heart of Alabama Food Bank.
The Montgomery-based food bank serves 35 counties, distributing more than 33 million pounds of food last year alone.
It gets 30% of its food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is part of the shutdown. Luckily, most of the other 70% comes from corporations such as Walmart and Publix.
In addition, the Alabama Department of Human Resources says it has been told that federal SNAP benefits will be suspended as of November 1 due to the government shutdown. SNAP, which stands for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.
SNAP benefits are 100% federally funded. DHR says more than 750,000 Alabamians receive a total of $140 million in support each month. With that aid on hold, DHR has told clients to reach out to food banks for help.
“The increased demand on SNAP is going to place a heavy burden on us,” Heart of Alabama Food Bank CEO Michael Coleman told Action 8 News. “We have a limited amount of food. It’s impossible for us to fully stand in the gap and replace the benefits that are going to be lost due to the government shutdown.”
CLICK HERE to donate to the Heart of Alabama Food Bank.
The shutdown began on October 1.
