Local officials act to address potential gap in assistance for thousands of families
Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council approved emergency legislation this week to support local residents facing potential disruptions in federal food assistance. The county authorized a $250,000 grant to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to help address urgent food needs.
More than 77,000 Summit County residents in nearly 43,000 households rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides an average of $15 million per month in food assistance. However, Congress has not passed a federal budget or appropriated funding for the continuation of the program. According to a notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals nationwide beginning Nov. 1.
Summit County Council passed an emergency resolution at Shapiro’s request, authorizing the Department of Job and Family Services to execute the grant agreement with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. The funds will help expand the foodbank’s capacity to serve local families who may experience food insecurity as a result of the federal funding lapse.
Shapiro said tens of thousands of Summit County residents in all 31 communities depend on SNAP to feed themselves and their families. While the county cannot control the federal budget process, local officials can act to help fill the gap.
The emergency funding builds upon the county’s existing partnership with the foodbank, which includes an existing $324,000 contract for food distribution services approved earlier this year. The additional grant will ensure that local food providers have added resources to help meet increased demand in the coming weeks.
Residents in need of food assistance can visit https://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/ or call 2-1-1.
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