ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County food pantries are preparing for a surge in demand as federal SNAP benefits are set to stop Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown.
County officials and food pantry representatives discussed on Thursday strategies to assist the roughly 29,000 residents in 16,000 households who rely on SNAP for food.
“Any disruption to people’s ability to access food is concerning, especially as our community continues recovering from Tropical Storm Helene,” Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director David Sweat said.
Sweat said the county’s Economic Services offices will remain open and continue processing SNAP applications, even though new benefits will not be issued while the shutdown continues. SNAP benefits in the county are distributed on a rolling schedule, meaning the immediate impact will first affect about 1,500 families on Nov. 3.
The average SNAP benefit in Buncombe County is $171 per individual or $344 per household, Sweat said. Statewide, one in eight residents receives SNAP, including seniors, people with disabilities and working families who still struggle to meet monthly food needs.
“We know that our area, Buncombe County, has one of the highest costs of living in North Carolina, which makes food security a challenge even in the best of times,” Sweat said.
County officials and nonprofit partners are ramping up local support. Bounty and Soul, a nonprofit focused on food access and nutrition, has doubled its reach since Helene, serving 26,000 people per month through 10 weekly community markets, deputy director Paula Sellars said. The organization distributes about 180,000 pounds of fresh produce monthly, sourced from local farms, retail partners and donations.
MANNA FoodBank Marketing and Communications Director Micah Chrisman said his organization is prepared to meet rising needs, distributing food to more than 220 partner pantries across the region.
“We anticipate an increase in demand when SNAP benefits are paused,” he said.
MANA has already deployed $1.5 million in reserves to purchase additional food.
“We’re here to roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Chrisman said. “We’ve been supporting our communities since Helene. And I say with a heavy heart that we are serving over 195,000 visits to our food pantries every single month on average.
“But we know that our communities are resilient. We’ve been through COVID, we’ve been through Helene and, despite the government shutdown, we’re here for each other now.”
County leaders also emphasized community engagement. SNAP recipients will receive updates via text and phone, and mobile food markets will continue to operate throughout the county. Buncombe County has launched a food drive at all 12 libraries to support local food banks, collecting non-perishable items such as canned goods, rice, pasta and formula.
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Edwards called the shutdown “devastating and far-reaching” and urged residents to contact federal lawmakers to restore funding.
“More than two-thirds of households receiving SNAP have children, and one in five recipients is elderly,” Edwards said. “This is about feeding our children and our grandparents. Where is the humanity in Washington?”
Officials encouraged residents in need to use resources such as nc211.org or call the MANA Food Bank helpline at 828-290-9749 to find food assistance locations. County and nonprofit staff stressed that while charitable organizations can help, federal funding is crucial to meeting the full scope of need.
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