Gov. Stein presents $3.3M donation to Food Bank during government shutdown
RALEIGH, N,C, (WTVD) -- Gov. Josh Stein said he's hopeful that some SNAP benefits will become available by the end of the week with a pending deal in Washington over the government shutdown.
Stein said Tuesday that millions of North Carolinians are desperate for food assistance, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina plays a critical role.
Stein presented a check on Tuesday for more than $3.3 million in a donation, and along with Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, also spent time volunteering and helping to box up nonperishable items that'll be sent to food pantries.
"Today is Veterans Day, and one out of every four vets in North Carolina is food insecure," said Stein.
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It's been about a week and a half since SNAP benefits ended because of the government shutdown, and federal workers stopped receiving paychecks.
The Food Bank said the demand for food had already spiked 20% to 60% before the shutdown, and a spokesperson said the shutdown further exacerbated the problem.
More than a million people across the state rely on SNAP benefits, including 580,000 children.
If you or your family is in immediate need of food resources, please call 211 to be connected with local resources. You can also visit the NCDHHS website dedicated to food access to find a food pantry closest to you.
