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Rockland County is stepping up to support residents affected by the federal government shutdown, which has halted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The county has allocated $1 million to assist more than 19,000 SNAP recipients in the area. This funding will be distributed through local food pantries and food distribution events.
According to Rockland County officials, 70 percent of the funds will go to 43 local food pantries, while the remaining 30 percent will support food distribution events organized by the Regional Food Bank. The first phase of the plan began on Thursday (November 6) and will run through Friday (November 14).
County Executive Ed Day emphasized the importance of this coordinated response, stating, "This plan ensures food reaches the families most affected, supports our pantries, and strengthens the entire emergency food system across Rockland." If the federal shutdown persists, an additional $1 million will be allocated for the same purpose from November 15 through November 30.
The initiative is crucial as SNAP benefits have lapsed, leaving many households in Rockland County, including 54,562 children and adults, facing food insecurity. The Regional Food Bank is actively seeking volunteers to assist with the distribution events, which have already commenced with a drive-thru distribution at Clover Stadium in Pomona, where 20,000 pounds of food were distributed to approximately 375 households.
Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank, expressed gratitude for the community's support, saying, "We want our neighbors to know we’re here to help. We will do our best to meet the need and are so grateful for the outpouring of support from Rockland County officials and individuals in the communities we serve."