food assistance

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on Nov. 8, in Des Moines. Iowa will not participate this summer in a federal program that gives $40 per month to each child in a low-income family to help with food costs while school is out.

Iowa, Nebraska won't participate in U.S. food assistance program for kids this summer

1:33pm December 25, 2023

by The Associated Press

The federal program gives $40 per month to each child in a low-income family to help with food costs while school is out. A Democratic Iowa lawmaker called it a "cruel and short-sighted decision."

The head of the USDA says most WIC beneficiaries would lose access to the program within a few days of a government shutdown, leaving them unable to buy healthy food.

Millions of Americans will lose food assistance if the government shuts down

2:12pm September 26, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

A shutdown would affect the nearly 7 million women and children who rely on WIC for healthy food. Free school lunch and Meals on Wheels are also at risk, and SNAP could be impacted eventually too.

Queue Listen Now

Education

Kaleideum offering reduced admission prices for food assistance recipients

3:59pm July 10, 2023

by Amy Diaz

Recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina’s Link2Feed cardholders can visit the museum for $3.

Additional benefits during the pandemic helped SNAP recipients reduce hunger and buy more expensive, healthy food.

Pandemic food assistance that held back hunger comes to an end

10:58am March 01, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

Millions of people who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP will see a cut of $90 a month or more. Some recipients say it will make it harder to buy healthy food.

Food assistance benefits for young children extended through summer in NC

10:56am May 13, 2022

by Neal Charnoff

North Carolina will continue to issue food assistance benefits for the state's youngest children through this summer.

A sign alerts customers about SNAP food stamp benefits at a grocery store in New York City in December 2019. Benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are getting a historic boost nearly two years later under the Biden administration.

Here's What The Historic Increase In Food Stamp Benefits Could Mean For You

4:29pm August 17, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

The average SNAP benefit will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, starting in October.

Health & Safety

Changes To SNAP Benefits Will Not Affect North Carolinians

3:26pm December 30, 2019

by Bethany Chafin

The U.S.

The new Trump administration rule makes it harder for states to waive the requirement that adults work at least 20 hours a week in order to receive their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — benefits. Some low-income college students

New SNAP Rule Impacts College Students By Limiting Benefits And Adding Confusion

4:12pm December 21, 2019

by Rachel Treisman

College students often struggle to make ends meet, and food insecurity is more common on campus than you might think. Now it could be even more challenging for some to get food stamps.

Volunteers at the St. James Chapel Church food bank in Reading, Pa., hand out food and help the older and disabled.

For People Who Need Assistance, The Lingering Shutdown Could Mean A Food Crisis

7:28pm January 24, 2019

by Bobby Allyn

Food assistance in the form of SNAP benefits came early this month owing to the shutdown. But in Pennsylvania, recipients are spending the benefits quickly, and there may be no new funds for February.

Politics & Government

Local Food Pantries Increase Outreach During Government Shutdown

7:52am January 23, 2019

by Keri Brown

Area nonprofits are raising alarms about how the partial federal government shutdown may affect those in the Triad. This comes amid uncertainty as to how federal food assistance will impact people in the community.