Care for Real community,
Our food insecure neighbors need your help. As we’ve shared, the Federal bill that was passed by Congress this summer makes the most sweeping changes to SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as Food Stamps, in the program’s history. These changes mean 450,000 people in Illinois will lose access to food assistance. With the need already growing exponentially, even more families will now be turning to food pantries like Care for Real. Unlike other parts of the bill that are slow to take effect, SNAP reductions are occurring now.
To make matters worse, the Administration has stated that unless the government shutdown ends, funding for SNAP will run out at the end of the month. This means SNAP recipients will not receive benefits in November. In our state, 1.9 million Illinoisans rely on SNAP and will be without this assistance unless the government shutdown ends, or the Department of Agriculture uses contingency funds (which are more than enough to cover November). If the Administration does not direct USDA to do this, food pantries like Care for Real will be overwhelmed with need. According to Feeding America, for every 1 meal that pantries provide, SNAP provides 9. Pantries alone will not be able to fill this gap.
Right now, we are grateful that with our new larger facility, we are able to take additional inventory from partners to give to our clients. We are encouraging our clients to stock up on shelf stable items to prepare. At the same time, we are planning ahead for the upcoming explosion in need as we adjust upcoming staff and volunteers shifts.
We need your help now.
– Donate now to help us prepare for the expected skyrocketing new.
– Sign up to volunteer to help out as the need grows.
– Contact your members of Congress to ask them to demand the government fund SNAP
With gratitude,
Gregory Gross
Executive Director
P.S. WGN covered the story this week onsite at Care for Real. Check out the interview here.