San Antonio Food Bank calls for extra help during shutdown
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The San Antonio Food Bank says it needs an extra $500,000 per week to serve an additional 1 million pounds of food to people in need during the federal government shutdown.
Why it matters: About 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children, could go without food aid next month as the government shutdown threatens November's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps.
- Meanwhile, federal workers are going without pay around San Antonio.
The big picture: As the funding lapse drags on with no sign of a deal to reopen the government, the impact is beginning to reach programs serving the country's most vulnerable families.
- SNAP is the nation's largest domestic food-assistance program.
- Texas is one of the states that has cautioned next month's benefits will not be paid if the shutdown continues past Monday.
Between the lines: Food benefits will resume when the government reopens, but the delay creates a gap the food bank is trying to fill, Eric Cooper, CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, said Tuesday on a call with reporters.
What they're saying: "It is unprecedented that there'd be a disruption in benefits, but that is what's looming," Cooper said.
- In past government shutdowns, agencies moved food benefits out early, Robert Campbell, vice president of policy for Feeding America, said on the call. The concern now is that the government can't fully fund the benefits.
- "It would be the first time this kind of disruption would happen in the history of the program," Campbell said.
By the numbers: The San Antonio region has the densest population of federal workers in Texas, Cooper said, with more than 89,000 federal employees and armed services members in the food bank's 29-county service area.
- That's on top of about 100,000 federal contractors who could also be affected by the shutdown.
- Of those, the food bank expects to support about 50,000 people.
What's next: The food bank is adding food distributions and seeking volunteers.
- It is asking for donations of shelf-stable food, formula and diapers — from people and major local employers.
- Learn more at safoodbank.org/givefood.