Local organizations prepare for spike in need as SNAP benefits nearing halt

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — The government shutdown is about to enter its fourth week with no end in sight. Here in Mississippi, 350,000 people who rely on government assistance could be drastically impacted come November 1.

A domino effect of the government’s inability to reach an agreement will soon present itself, as hundreds of thousands of people across the state will lose SNAP benefits.

Over 350,000 Mississippians rely on this assistance, with over 57,000 of those being residents of the bottom six counties.

Feed My Sheep soup kitchen in Gulfport supports the homeless and food insecure community on the Coast by preparing hot meals daily, but Executive Director David Lion says many of those in need still rely on SNAP for their remaining meals.

According to the Mississippi Department of Human Services, $63 million is distributed across the state through SNAP each month, with each person receiving around $182 per month.

Governor Tate Reeves recently addressed the effects of the government shutdown on social media, stating that “The shutdown has very real implications for Mississippi’s poor and needy…,” and “There is no simple way for state government to just step in and pay the hundreds of millions of dollars in harm that this shutdown… is causing.”

As the community is starting to see the impacts of the second longest government shutdown in history, organizations like Feed My Sheep are preparing to serve a growing community in need with the help of donations and volunteers.

If you or someone you know is in need, local organizations are here to help. Coastal groups such as Feed My Sheep, Catholic Charities of South Mississippi, and Feeding the Gulf Coast are among the many community resources providing meals and support for those facing food insecurity.