Agencies ramping up to assist, should SNAP program curtail

NECAC Ralls County Service Coordinator Crystal Bliss grabs one of the last packages of ground beef from a freezer at her food pantry in New London. NECAC is seeking donations of perishable and non-perishable items to keep the pantry afloat as requests for help rise dramatically. More information is available by calling Bliss at (573) 985-2411 Mondays to Thursdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Contributed photo

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

If the prediction comes to fruition, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) distribution is curtailed in November due to the ongoing government shutdown, the local impact will be both swift and profound.

In Marion County (which includes much of the town of Hannibal) there are 3,454 food stamp (SNAP) recipients, which equals 12.1 percent of the population.

“The majority (of recipients) are under the age of 18,” said Brent Engle, public relations officer for the North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC). This agency administers and delivers - through government contracts - social service, community health and public housing programs to the low income, elderly, youth, disabled and disadvantaged.

“We are still holding out hope that the shutdown will end and that food stamps will be available in November, but we are preparing, just in case. We are doing that by ramping up some of the food options we have in our counties.”

This week, NECAC partnered with Mission 180, a faith-based outreach group located at 201 N. Hawkins, to assist with the collection of nonperishable food items, such as boxed and canned goods. To support this program, donated items may be left at the NECAC office at Hannibal, located at 3518 Palmyra Road, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

(This week, the announcement came that Mission 180 purchased the former Eugene Field School building, 1405 Pearl St., which will be used as a resource center for young people who have aged out of the foster child program.)

Ralls County

NECAC operates an existing food pantry in Ralls County, south of Marion County.

NECAC is stepping up its efforts stock the shelves at this pantry, seeking donations from civic groups, churches, individuals and businesses alike.

“Ralls is the focal point,” right now. Engle said. “It is an established food pantry, and because of an increase in the number of people seeking help, we’re starting to run out of goods.”

“We’re hoping churches, civic groups, will step up and help out.

“Most of our donors are individuals or civic groups, business groups and churches,” Engle said.

They also receive help through the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, which supplies food to the Ralls County site on a monthly basis.

Ralls County can accept perishable food items, such as meat and cheeses, because they have refrigeration available. In addition, traditional non-perishable food items, such as canned and boxed goods, will be collected.

The NECAC office in Ralls County is located at 411 Main, New London, Mo.

Even before the government shutdown began, “I think more people are finding it difficult in putting food on the table because other costs have risen so much,” Engle said. “A lot of people will sacrifice a meal a day in order to pay the mortgage or rent. They are meeting other obligations. This is America. No one should go hungry.”

Unique situation

“The homeless in this area is not like in the cities,” Engle said. Rather than people living on the streets, the homelessness might consist of “couch surfing. They don’t need an overnight shelter,” because they are staying temporarily with friends or relatives. But they do need food.

“These are the working poor. It is a difficult, troubling situation to see. Requests for help are rising. If food stamps are cut off, the flood gates will open and there will be an even greater need than there is now.”

If there is a bright side to this situation, according to Engle, “At least the kids have lunches. Most of the kids at the school districts in our area qualify for free or reduced price lunches.”

“Some districts are as high as 80 percent who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches,” he said.