KETTERING — Over a million Ohioans could lose their food assistance by the end of the month.
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Constance Gregg is disabled and gets food assistance through SNAP each month.
“We get disabled Social Security. By the time you pay the bills, you’ve got just a little bit left, and that doesn’t pay for food,” Gregg said.
This week, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services sent out a notice to people on SNAP.
Telling them that if the shutdown continues, they may not receive November SNAP benefits.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do. You’re already stressing your bills and stuff to begin with, and now you’ve got to stress this,” Gregg said.
She said she really has just one option.
“The food bank is what we’re going to do,” Gregg said.
The Second Harvest Food Bank serves Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties.
Alex Jackson is the food bank’s executive director.
He said the need has doubled since the shutdown started, and he expects that if SNAP benefits aren’t paid, the need will double again.
“We’re going to see a lot of families that come in that never come to the pantry because they get those benefits every month,” Jackson said.
He said funding is tight, but they are moving money around to make sure they can meet the needs right now.
“We are just doing what we can, but it’s a stressful time,” Jackson said.
They will be there for people like Gregg until leaders in Washington reach a deal and reopen the government.
“They’re not thinking of the impact they’re making on everyday people. We can’t go out and just get a job because we’re disabled, we don’t know what we’re going to do. They need to get it together,” Gregg said.
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