Mecklenburg County has announced plans to allocate $740,000 to support food resources for residents affected by the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The federal government shutdown has led to a pause in SNAP benefits for November.
County officials have coordinated with local community and food resource partners to provide assistance to those who rely on SNAP. The funding will be used for several initiatives, including expanding food pantry resources, distributing 28,000 additional seven-day food boxes through Nourish Up, and maximizing storage at county Community Resource Centers.
Other measures include providing $50 food-only gift cards to newly approved emergency SNAP recipients—about 400 per week—and offering one-time $50 farmers market vouchers to eligible SNAP households, totaling around 2,000 vouchers. The county will also expand mobile market distribution for seniors and hold a holiday turkey distribution event at the Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center on November 22, aiming to serve about 1,000 households.
Food donation boxes are being placed at Park and Recreation and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations. Financial donations can be made online at NourishUp.org/Meck-Cares.
There are approximately 138,500 SNAP participants in Mecklenburg County. Federal SNAP benefits typically amount to about $24 million monthly in the county or roughly $175 per participant each month. While the county cannot fully replace this funding level, leaders hope these efforts will help address immediate needs until federal benefits resume.
“Any benefits currently on participants’ EBT cards are still available for use. Participants can check their EBT balance at ebtEDGE.com or by calling the number on the back of their card: 1-888-622-7328.”
The suspension does not impact Mecklenburg County’s ongoing work determining eligibility or processing applications for SNAP. Residents may continue submitting applications and renewals as usual.
Community Resource Centers—including Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center (3205 Freedom Drive), Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center (430 Stitt Road), and Catherine M. Wilson Center (301 Billingsley Road)—will remain open to assist residents seeking food during this period.
Residents can find information about local pantries or volunteer opportunities through United Way’s NC 211 (dial 211 or visit NC211.org), Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (“Need Food?” link), Nourish Up’s pantry list, Hearts & Hands Food Pantry, Hope Street Food Pantry, Feeding Charlotte, Ada Jenkins Center, Angels & Sparrows, and Christ the King Food Pantry.
These new actions add to existing programs supporting nutrition in Mecklenburg County. The Senior Citizens Nutrition Program continues providing free meals and wellness activities for residents aged 60 and older through congregate meal sites across the county as well as home-delivered meals for homebound seniors and a Mobile Market program delivering groceries directly into neighborhoods.
Mecklenburg County is also increasing support for its SNAP/Double Bucks program at designated farmers markets.
For updates regarding SNAP benefits or local emergency assistance resources in Mecklenburg County, visit MeckNC.gov.
In related news about education in the area: Enrollment in Mecklenburg County schools decreased by 0.4% during the 2022-23 school year compared with the previous year (source). During that same period, total enrollment was reported at 153,537 students (source).
