Millions of families across the country could soon see delays in their food assistance as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, faces uncertainty due to the ongoing government shutdown.
According to Ghyrn Wakefield, Chief Development Officer at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, those delays could have a major impact if the shutdown continues into the end of October.
“They would run out at the end of the month — at the end of October — if the government shutdown continues,” Wakefield said. “That would affect 42 million people nationwide, but in our service area of 20 counties, it would impact about 120,000 people.”
Local food banks, like the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, are already preparing for a possible increase in demand. Wakefield said his team is working on contingency plans to ensure families still have access to food if benefits are disrupted.
“We have a plan for where we would source more food, how much it would cost, how we would transport it, and how we would box it up,” Wakefield said. “We are creating plans right now for what to do if that should happen.”
Despite the uncertainty, Wakefield says the food bank’s mission remains the same — making sure no one in the community goes hungry.
“We have all those partners that we work with, so there’s a food pantry near you,” he said. “Don’t panic — just come to us. We’re here to help.”
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank serves 20 counties across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. The organization is encouraging anyone in need of food assistance to reach out and reminding the public that donations and volunteers are always needed — especially during times of federal funding instability.
