SNAP

Elkhart County’s first independent food bank opens early in Jimtown as need grows and SNAP cuts strain families. GymTown founders call for local support.

Cultivate says they wouldn't have been able to accept the food if they had not built their cold storage facility last year in South Bend.

Indiana will begin issuing partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on Tuesday following delays caused by the federal shutdown.

In addition to a public hearing on whether the city of South Bend is doing enough to help SNAP recipients during the shutdown, Common Council Member Oliver Davis says the council should appoint a task force to be ready in case the dysfunction in Washington causes more emergencies that affect city residents in the future.

Beacon Health System launches a food relief collaborative to address rising food insecurity across northern Indiana communities.

South Bend Mayor James Mueller says the city will send the Food Bank of Northern Indiana $70,000 to buy more food for SNAP recipients who've lost benefits because of the federal government shutdown.

Despite troubling trends, Food Bank of Northern Indiana Executive Director Marijo Martinec says she's confident the community will step up and help the hungry as SNAP benefits freeze during the federal government shutdown.

The Community Foundation of Elkhart County this week bought a large amount of food and is distributing it to 61 pantries. They'll need more volunteers to help hand out the food, especially after Saturday when the federal government shutdown freezes SNAP benefits.

To brace for SNAP benefits ending Saturday because of the federal government shutdown, Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow says food pantries and social service nonprofits have resumed their Emergency Food Initiative from the Covid pandemic shutdown.

South Bend Common Council Member Oliver Davis and Black Lives Matter South Bend say the city should send some of its cash reserves to local food pantries if the federal government shutdown doesn't end by Saturday, when SNAP recipients would normally receive their November benefits.