Nantucket Non-Profits Preparing For Looming SNAP Suspension

With the likely November 1st suspension of the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) looming, Nantucket’s food security non-profits are rallying to fill the gap and provide assistance to affected islanders.

“If someone comes to us and says they have lost benefits and they need food, we're going to register them and give them food,” Executive Director for Nantucket Food, Fuel, and Rental Assistance (NFFRA) Outreach Programs and Director for Rental and Fuel Assistance Programs Janis Carreiro said.

The food pantry operates under the umbrella of NFFRA, which, in turn, is run by the Nantucket Interfaith Council.

Carreiro said that, while the pause in assistance is a serious issue, Nantucket’s non-profits are well-prepared to weather the storm.

“Fortunately for us as an island, we do not have the volume of impact that is going to occur on the mainland,” she said. “Donations are always welcome because they will be used, but we are not in crisis mode at the moment.”

Food security non-profit Nourish Nantucket issued a statement Tuesday detailing the efforts local organizations are taking. Nourish is strengthening its prepared meals program, and other groups, including Pip & Anchor’s “Send it Boxes” and Meals on Wheels, will continue to offer food to those in need.

“Food insecurity is a reality on Nantucket every day; about one in three families struggles to have enough to feed themselves and their families,” said Meg Browers, Executive Director ofNourish Nantucket. “The potential SNAP disruption is devastating, and it will negatively impact our community. That’s why programs like grocery cards, meal deliveries, and pantry support are so critical; they fill gaps and ensure our neighbors have access to food when they need it most.”

SNAP, also known as food stamps, provides benefits to help low-income families afford food. As the federal government shutdown drags on, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that it can no longer fund the program until a continuing resolution is passed by Congress to reopen the government.

The USDA has been warning about the potential lapse in funding for SNAP since early October. The department claims it cannot tap into existing contingency funds to keep SNAP operational through November, but 25 states, including Massachusetts, are suing the federal government over the decision to suspend funding for SNAP.

Food Pantry manager Ruth Pitts said that the pantry is particularly well-stocked and is in a good position to meet demand.

“We're good. Fortunately, probably not so true for other places, the fall is probably our bounty time,” she said. “We should be in relatively strong shape.”

The pantry is always looking for donations and support from the community, and Pitts also suggested that Nantucket residents should apply pressure to Washington, D.C., to incentivize lawmakers to end the shutdown.

Pitts and Carreiro both repeatedly emphasized that anyone who needs food support on Nantucket, whether because of the lapse of federal funding for SNAP or for any other reason, can always turn to the food pantry.

“We're here for the long run, and we can accommodate any bump in the road,” she said. “Everyone is welcome. That's the key, here.”