Charlotte food bank addresses impact of SNAP cuts, asks community for help

The CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank said she’s led the organization through multiple disasters — the 2007 financial crisis, COVID-19, and Hurricane Helene — but SNAP benefits going unfunded is something entirely new.

“It’s a disaster of a different kind,” Kay Carter said at a press conference in Charlotte on Wednesday. “I don’t remember a time when SNAP benefits weren’t paid out, even during the [government] shutdown.”

Carter, who spoke at the organization’s Spratt Street headquarters, said the group has delivered food boxes by tractor trailer to 24 North Carolina and South Carolina counties this week and last, and has plans to deliver more. Carter said she wasn’t sure of the exact number, but estimated they would deliver 100,000 food boxes by the end of the third week.

In Mecklenburg County, which has 138,000 SNAP recipients, Second Harvest has given food boxes to local organizations like Nourish Up and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Their goal has been to provide food to pantries and groups that have wide community outreach, Carter said. Mecklenburg County officials say they will commit $740 million to organizations and food pantries for SNAP recipients.

But the group’s effort still doesn’t compare to what the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is capable of providing, Carter said. For every meal a food bank is able to provide annually, SNAP is able to provide nine. And SNAP’s nearly $100 billion federal budget eclipses Second Harvest’s $25 million, she said.

Feed 2 million SNAP recipients

Carter was correct that SNAP has never gone unfunded. It is the first time in U.S. history the benefits, known as food stamps, have not been paid out, leaving the country’s 42 million recipients in limbo just before the holidays.

President Donald Trump has said SNAP benefits would be partially funded this month following a lawsuit filed by North Carolina and 24 other states, but hasn’t said when that would happen. A U.S. Department of Agriculture official said it could take weeks to months, ABC News reported.

In North Carolina and South Carolina, there are about 2 million SNAP recipients, nearly 50% of whom are children, Carter said. A press release from Gov. Josh Stein’s office said SNAP is budgeted about $230 million to $250 million each month in North Carolina.

Carter said Second Harvest distributes nearly 88 million pounds of food annually to 24 counties in the Carolinas. The food boxes being delivered are nutritionally balanced but the organization can’t regularly provide fresh produce, meat, and dairy. The boxes contain canned vegetables and fruits, grains like oatmeal or pasta, and beans or canned meats for protein.

The organization has delivered 23 tractor-trailer loads of food boxes to food pantries around the Carolinas and has committed to more, but it is costly, Carter said. Each tractor trailer load costs about $40,000.

A symbiotic relationship

Carol Hardison, the CEO of Crisis Assistance Ministry, said in an interview with The Charlotte Observer Wednesday that the SNAP crisis has affirmed for her the importance of partnerships. Crisis and Second Harvest are next door to each other on Spratt Street.

“Given the cost of housing, I can’t imagine now trying to struggle to put food on the table,” Hardison said. “At times like this, partnerships are critical.”

Along with Nourish Up, a local nonprofit that delivers food to people in need, the three organizations have formed a symbiotic relationship, Hardison said. Over decades, the groups have often helped each other with things like giving referrals or directing people to one another for support.

Crisis Assistance Ministry received 100 food boxes from Second Harvest to give to people facing eviction, Hardison said. And the ministry has made itself available to assist Nourish Up when needed.

“Our team feels good about supporting them during this time,” Hardison said. “Hopefully we can be an extension of Nourish Up by helping with food referrals.”

Donations and fundraising

Carter said the work that’s been done thus far has been because of people donating food, money and time. She hopes they’ll continue during the holidays and beyond.

“If everyone in our communities were as benevolent all through the years as they are in November and December, we probably wouldn’t have any hungry people,” Carter said.

The group is always looking for food and non-food donations, Carter said. Non-food items include diapers and hygiene products, detergents, and school supplies. On Nov. 14, Second Harvest will hold an all-day food drive at the Spratt Street location.

In the next couple of weeks, nearly 500 corporate volunteers will help pack food boxes that will be delivered to pantries. And the Rowan County facility, the organization’s second-largest location, will offer fresh produce, meat, and dairy products, and possibly pet food, Carter said.

Those looking to donate money or find other ways to contribute can find information on the Second Harvest website.