BRAFB offering help after pandemic emergency SNAP benefits expire
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Beginning Wednesday, people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits will see those benefits decrease by about $95.
That's because emergency SNAP allotments instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic have expired.
But the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank wants people to know there are still options to get help if they run out of SNAP this month.
Les Sinclair says the food bank has plenty of food and so do the pantries nearby. The Food Finder tool on BRAFB's website shows people where they can go to get help.
Sinclair said out of every 10 people who have trouble getting food, nine receive SNAP and just one gets help from the food bank.
So BRAFB has hired someone whose only job is to help people sign up for SNAP and get the most out of their benefits.
"What SNAP does is makes sure people can use this electronic debit card and go to the store and buy food resources that are appropriate for their family and are culturally familiar as well," Sinclair said.
He said many pantries are set up like grocery stores to try to mirror the shopping experience people would get with SNAP.
He says it's best for someone to use as many benefits as possible.