As thousands of Licking County residents brace for the potential loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to end – possibly as soon as Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown continues – the state and a number of local organizations are prepared to help feed them.
According to the Associated Press, two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday, Oct. 31, that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue to fund SNAP, the nation’s biggest food aid program, using contingency funds during the government shutdown.
The rulings came a day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because it said it could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown.
If the program is suspended because of the federal government shutdown, it would affect 19,169 SNAP recipients in Licking County – including about 7,000 children. The total is about 10.63% of the county’s population as of September.
The ongoing government shutdown – which started on Oct. 1 – put about 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP at risk of losing access to food.
SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, helps lower-income households access nutritious food through benefits distributed electronically in the form of the Ohio Direction Card, which functions like a debit card.
In Ohio, a family of four with a household income of up to $64,300 qualifies for SNAP benefits, which is a vital source of support for approximately 1.4 million Ohioans who struggle to afford or access food.
On Thursday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order allowing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to provide up to $25 million in food assistance to Ohio families that will be affected by the suspension of SNAP benefits if the ongoing federal government shutdown continues.
The order directs ODJFS to give $7 million to various Ohio food banks and up to $18 million in emergency relief benefits to more than 63,000 Ohioans – including more than 57,000 children – who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level.
Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable because they are on fixed incomes.
One of the organizations that has been preparing to help those facing food insecurity is the Food Pantry Network of Licking County.
| Read more: Ongoing federal shutdown could leave more than 19,000 Licking Countians without access to SNAP benefits
The network has been preparing for the possible suspension of food stamps by setting aside “extra cash” to purchase additional food. Executive Director Chuck Moore said the organization plans to buy more fruits and vegetables, ravioli and other essential items to help support families facing cuts to SNAP benefits in the coming months, especially with the holidays approaching.
As families and others receiving SNAP benefits prepare for the worst, here are the organizations hosting meals for those in need, as well as pantry hours and locations:
Monday
Breakfast:
9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Community Drop-In Center, 592 W. Main St., Newark
Lunch:
Noon – Community Drop-In Center
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Salvation Army, 250 E. Main St., Newark
11:30 a.m. to noon – Main Place, 112 S. 3rd St., Newark
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Salvation Army
4 to 5:30 p.m. – Second Presbyterian Church, 42 E. Church St., Newark
Pantries:
10 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Last Call Ministries, 310 Everett Ave.
10 a.m. – Pataskala [Choice Pantry] @ Pataskala LEADS Center, 12536 Adams Lane SW
10 a.m. – Croton [Choice Pantry] @ Croton Church of Christ, 40 S. Main St., Hartford
11 a.m. – Newark [FPN Market] @ Licking Memorial Health Systems, 131 McMillen Dr.
Noon – Buckeye Lake [Choice Pantry] @ Water’s Edge Community Center, 4852 Walnut Road
1 p.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Salvation Army Pantry, 250 E. Main St.
2 p.m. – Newark [FPN Market] on Brice, 1035 Brice St.
Tuesday
Breakfast:
9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Community Drop-In Center
Lunch:
Noon – Community Drop In Center
1:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Salvation Army
11:30 a.m. to noon – Main Place
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Salvation Army
5:30 – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 592 W. Main St., Newark
Pantries:
9 a.m. Newark [FPN Market] on Brice Street
9 a.m. Newark [Drive Thru Pantry] @ Marne Church, 1019 Licking Valley Road NE
9 a.m. Buckeye Lake [Choice Pantry] @ Buckeye Lake LEADS Center, 41 W. First St.,
9 a.m. Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Seventh Day Adventist Church, 701 Linnville Road SE
10 a.m. Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Second Presbyterian Church, 42 E. Church St.
10 a.m. Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Newark Nazarene Pantry, 200 S. Williams St.
10:30 a.m. Newark [Baby Pantry] @ Wright Memorial Methodist Church, 735 Mount Vernon Road
11 a.m. Newark [FPN Market] @ Licking Memorial Health Systems
6:30 p.m. Newark [Choice Pantry] @ St. Vincent DePaul Society, 135 Wilson St.
Wednesday
Breakfast:
9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Community Drop-In Center
Lunch:
12:00 Community Drop In
11:30 – 1:00 – Salvation Army
11:30 – 12:00 – Main Place
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Salvation Army
6 to 8 p.m. – Champion’s Network, 261 E. Main St., Newark
Pantries:
8:30 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Market Street Pantry, 37 1/2 S. 4th St.
9:30 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Seventh Day Adventist
10 a.m. – Jacksontown [Produce and Choice Pantry] @ Jacksontown United Methodist Church, 9350 Jacksontown Road
10 a.m. – Pataskala [Choice Pantry] @ Pataskala LEADS Center
11 a.m. Newark [FPN Market] @ Licking Memorial Health Systems
Noon – Buckeye Lake [Choice Pantry] @ Water’s Edge
1 p.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Salvation Army Pantry
4:30 p.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Family of Faith Church, 975 Mount Vernon Road
4:30 p.m. – Newark [Drive Thru] Pantry @ Christ Cornerstone Church, 69 King Ave.
6 p.m. – Jacksontown [Produce and Choice Pantry] @ Jacksontown UMC
Thursday
Breakfast:
9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Community Drop-In Center
Lunch:
Noon – Community Drop In
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Salvation Army
11:30 a.m. to noon – Main Place
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Salvation Army
6 to 8 p.m. – Crossroads Baptist Church in the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Parking lot (most Thursdays), 135 Wilson St.
Pantries:
9 a.m. – Buckeye Lake [Choice Pantry] @ Buckeye Lake LEADS Center
9:30 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Seventh Day Adventist
10 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Second Presbyterian Church
10 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Newark Nazarene Pantry
10 a.m. – Johnstown [Produce & Choice Pantry] @ Faithcare Pantry, 140 E. Pratt St.
10:30 a.m. – Newark [Baby Pantry] @ Wright Memorial Methodist Church
11 a.m. – Newark [FPN Market] @ Licking Memorial Health Systems
2 p.m. – Newark [FPN Market] on Brice Street
3:30 p.m. – Utica Drive Through Pantry @ Utica LEADS Center, 308 N. Main St.
Friday
Breakfast:
9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Community Drop-In Center
Lunch:
Noon – Community Drop-In Center
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Salvation Army
11:30 a.m. to noon – Main Place
Dinner:
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Salvation Army
Shower Ministry:
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – First United Methodist Church, 88 N. 5th St.
Pantries:
10 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Last Call Ministries
11 a.m. – Newark [FPN Market] @ Licking Memorial Health Systems
Noon – Buckeye Lake [Choice Pantry] @ Water’s Edge
Saturday
Breakfast / Lunch:
10 a.m. to noon – Newark Homeless Outreach, corner of E. Main and Buena Vista streets, Newark
Pantries:
8:30 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ Market Street Pantry
9 a.m. – Newark [Choice Pantry] @ St. Vincent DePaul Society
9 a.m. – Newark [FPN Market] on Brice Street
Sunday
Food distribution locations are closed.