The Berrien Community Foundation is thanking Southwest Michigan for coming out in support of families facing food insecurity during the SNAP disruption.
The BCF set up food donation drop off sites throughout Berrien County last month, and President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells us the generosity has been heartwarming.
“In the first round of food that came in, we had just about 4 ,000 different items that came in and were then given out to our pantries,” Cripps-Downey said. “We have another round that has come in now and is about to go out and just about that same amount.”
Now that an end to the government shutdown is in sight, Cripps-Downey says there’s some sense of relief in the non-profit community.
“What we’re starting to see is that some people are reporting that they are getting some of their SNAP benefit back. Some people have not. And so we’re waiting to see when everything gets turned back on. In the meantime, we are working to really restock and restore items to the food pantries.”
Cripps-Downey says with the holidays about here, the need for food aid is at its highest, so they’ll continue maintaining the drop off sites until SNAP is fully restored. She’s been encouraged by the community’s reaction.
“This community has stepped up in such an amazing way when they saw that their friends and their neighbors were in need. They stepped up and they did what they needed to do to take care of these families.”
Cripps-Downey says one in six Berrien County residents is food insecure, and the SNAP disruption has brought that into focus for many. Items commonly needed include canned meat, soup, canned vegetables, pasta, and pasta sauce.
