The St. Anne Community Outreach program to aid local families with food, rental assistance and utilities is struggling to meet the current need as SNAP prepares to pause funding nationwide. Program Director Kelly Tolman said “the need will increase and we don’t have the food to match the need.” The program could use donations including canned goods like soup and stew and dry goods like rice and pasta.
Tolman said her main concern is families with children and seniors over 65 on a fixed income. “The 31903-zip code is categorized as one of the poorest zip codes in the entire state, the need here is extreme,” Tolman said. To qualify for the community outreach program, you have to be a resident of Muscogee County, Russell County or stationed at Fort Benning. Call 706-568-1592 Monday-Thursday to make an appointment.
Donors can make a tax-deductible gift on the St. Anne Outreach website or send a check to St. Anne Outreach, 1820 Box Road, Columbus, GA 31907.
CNN reports the US Department of Agriculture says it will not tap into its $6 billion contingency fund to cover food stamp benefits next month, according to an agency memo obtained by the network. That means that roughly 42 million Americans will not receive critical food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in November, unless the agency shifts its position.
