Warren County is about to experience an unprecedented hunger crisis and local food pantries are preparing for the potential influx of clients.
AGAPE Executive Director Michelle Bernth said due to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) there will be many families in Warren County facing food insecurity.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Warren County is about to experience an unprecedented hunger crisis and local food pantries are preparing for the potential influx of clients.
AGAPE Executive Director Michelle Bernth said due to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) there will be many families in Warren County facing food insecurity.
Bernth explained that reductions in SNAP benefits as part of the ongoing federal government shutdown are creating a double whammy when combined with cuts to other federal assistance programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program.
Bernth explained that recent cuts and the government shutdown have created an inverse result to what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic when federal funding actually increased for federal food assistance programs.
“Now we are seeing those decreased at the same time,” she said.
Bernth explained that the situation is causing concern among area families.
“People on SNAP are finding themselves with no warning,” she said. “They don’t know how they are going to feed their kids. They feel desperate and scared.”
Bernth explained that approximately 3,000 people in Warren County receive SNAP benefits. In an average month AGAPE feeds 1,500 through the food pantry. She said 40 percent of clients come from Wright City, 45 percent from Warrenton, with the remaining 15 percent coming from the rest of the county.
In October that number hit closer to 1,900, she said.
“We are seeing people have job losses, we are seeing people coming in because they are concerned about the loss of SNAP benefits,” she said, adding that the majority came into AGAPE’s food pantry in the second half of the month. “In November we are expecting to see that number over 2,000. Shelves are already getting depleted.”
Bernth said approximately half of AGAPE’s food supply comes from the federal TEFAP program, which means their normal stocks of food have been depleted with cuts to that federal program.
Bernth said AGAPE is seeking additional contributions from the community. She said residents can donate a wide variety of food items including canned fruits and vegetables; boxed breakfast items; beans, meat, fish and peanut butter; pasta and pasta sauce, and prepackaged meat and other boxed items. Bernth said AGAPE also accepts financial donations. She said when people donate funds, AGAPE can buy food at a cheaper price. Volunteers for the organization are also always in need.
“This crisis is coming,” Bernth said. “AGAPE is rising to meet the need and can’t do it without the community stepping up.”
The food pantry is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
