NC residents plead for continued SNAP assistance amid shutdown uncertainty

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — SNAP benefits are expected to expire Saturday if a deal isn’t reached to end the government shutdown.

ALSO READ: Local food banks prepare for increased demand as SNAP benefits may be paused

In North Carolina, 140,000 families rely on the food benefit program and now, many of them will be looking to food banks to fill the need.

Gaston County reporter Ken Lemon spoke with people pleading with officials to keep the assistance coming.

Martha Goodlett, 70, of Gastonia, was in line Wednesday at Community Relief Organization of Mount Holly and told Lemon she will go hungry if she loses the $179 a month she gets in SNAP benefits.

Goodlett said she is diabetic, has a heart murmur and other medical problems. She also has dietary restrictions.

WSOC LINK: Where to get help with food assistance in the Charlotte area

SNAP pays for 90% of her groceries.

NC residents plead for continued SNAP assistance amid shutdown uncertainty

“Please, please listen to me in Washington, D.C.,” she said. “Do not take away from us, please. There are older people than me that need to eat. Don’t do that, please.”

She lives alone and passes the time solving jigsaw puzzles.

Goodlett is one of the 37,000 Gaston County residents on SNAP, according to the state department Health and Human Services.

Linda Roles is in the same boat.

NC residents plead for continued SNAP assistance amid shutdown uncertainty NC residents plead for continued SNAP assistance amid shutdown uncertainty

“I don’t know what the elderly people are going to do,” said Roles, SNAP recipient.

She uses SNAP to buy all her groceries.

“That’s what feeds me and if I don’t have that I don’t eat,” Roles said.

Community Relief Organization of Mount Holly set a record for giving Wednesday, which was a 20% increase.

They are taking steps, including a food drive, to help more people when SNAP benefits end Saturday.

“We are starting to get people from further out than just Mt. Holly,” said Bob Duckworth, manager.

Adopt a food pantry

Gaston County is urging the community to support local food pantries as demand for food assistance rises amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

In collaboration with the Gaston Cares team from the One Gaston 2040 Initiative, the county is calling on local churches and civic organizations to adopt a food pantry to help those facing food insecurity.

Gaston Cares provides a list of local food pantries and charitable food providers on their website.

The county will establish several collection sites for non-perishable food items at the following locations beginning Thursday during normal business hours:

Gaston County Administration, 128 W. Main Ave., Gastonia
Gaston County DSS, 330 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Way, Gastonia
Gaston County Public Health, 991 W. Hudson Blvd., Gastonia
Gaston County Public Library, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd. Gastonia
Citizens Resource Center, 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Hwy., Dallas

South Carolina

South Carolina’s attorney general joined other states calling on Congress to provide stopgap funding for SNAP.

State Democrats are urging Gov. Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency or a call a special session to authorize emergency funding for food benefits.

The governor activated the One SC Fund: Emergency Food Response to support food banks.

VIDEO: Local food banks prepare for increased demand as SNAP benefits may be paused