Pause in SNAP benefits could leave 23,000 Berrien County Residents without food assistance; resources available

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich.— A potential pause in SNAP benefits could leave more than a million Michiganders without the food assistance they depend on, including 23,000 residents across Berrien County.

The Berrien Community Foundation estimates that more than $3.1 million in SNAP dollars would not be spent at local stores across the county through November.

“Yeah, we are worried. Mostly 70 to 80 percent of our customers use an EBT card,”
said Laka Yatab, owner of L&S Groceries right outside Benton Harbor.“

Yatab said customers have been coming in all week, anxious about how they will afford to feed their families.

The Berrien Community Foundation is working to connect those in need with available local resources as uncertainty grows.

“We don’t know how long this could potentially last,” said Lisa Cripps-Downey, president of the Berrien Community Foundation. “As a community, we’ve got to think about that. What we’re doing as a community foundation is also thinking about how to support those who are suddenly without access to food,”. She added.

Cripps-Downey said local food pantries are already seeing increased demand and are stocking up in anticipation of however long this goes on.

“So right now there’s a little bit of panic. People are going to food pantries in anticipation of not having the food they need. Our food pantries are the real heroes in this, they’re working hard to meet the need for both their regular clients and those newly affected by this situation,” said Cripps-Downey.

The foundation says they need the help of the community to meet the growing need through food, funds, and volunteer time.

Eight donation sites are set up across Berrien County, including the Berrien Community Foundation, Chikaming Township Hall, Coloma Public Library, Corewell Health Center for Wellness in Benton Harbor, Hardings Market in Berrien Springs, Watervliet District Library, and the YMCA branches in Niles/Buchanan and St. Joseph/Benton Harbor.

Meals on Wheels will collect donated items and deliver them to local food pantries.

Among the most needed items are: canned meats such as chicken, tuna or salmon in water; canned stews, soups or chili; canned vegetables; and pasta and pasta sauce.

A full list of requested items is available at:
www.berriencommunity.org/foodishealth.

Donations to the Food For Good Fund at the Berrien Community Foundation help purchase bulk food items or provide grants to pantries. Tax-deductible donations can be made at:

www.berriencommunity.org/foodforgood.

To volunteer, email [email protected], call 269-983-3304, or sign up through the United Way of Southwest Michigan website at https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___www.uwsm.org___.YXAzOndlaWdlbDphOm86OGM0YjMxM2RkMmI0NjFjMGY4NmRmMTdjYTFjNzJkNzI6NzpmMGQzOjFjNjQ1OWNhNDE3MWQ2NzYxYzFjMThiMGM2OGY5NmMwNWUyOWNjNjEyZTFmMzYwYWUxY2NjYWM3ZDAxM2M2ZjA6dDpGOkY

A full list of pantry locations can be found at at www.berriencommunity.org, www.help4berrien.org, or by calling 2-1-1.