Help available for Knox County families facing food benefit disruption

A recent bulletin from Knox County’s Job and Family Services alerted families about an upcoming disruption to food assistance programs. With federal funding frozen, benefits like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have not been approved for release in November. This means that over 2,700 households in Knox County might not have EBT cards reloaded with their monthly stipend, plunging families into food insecurity.

Our local non-profit network is jumping into action to provide food for anyone affected by the temporary gap in benefits with hot meals offered every day of the week and increased opportunities to shop food pantries.

Free hot meals are available every day through the generosity of dedicated congregations around Mount Vernon. For a complete list of meal locations, check out the Resource Navigator's Hot Meal Guide at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Hot-Meals-.html?soid=1102486477198&aid=XXqSjkM1eGs.

For grocery items, Knox County residents can shop any of the following food pantries:

• Interchurch Social Services (4 locations that serve residents based on school district)

• Salvation Army (206 E Ohio Avenue)

• First Church of the Nazarene (807 Coshocton Road)

• Church on the Rise (7512 Newark Road)

• Center of Hope (www.hopeinohio.org)

•Mount Vernon residents can also shop ACTS/Seventh Day Adventist Food Pantry (474 Wooster Road)

• Centerburg residents can shop Jacque Cordie’s Children’s Fund (12 W Main St., Centerburg)

Each food pantry has specific hours of operation and requirements. You can find up-to-date pantry information with hours of operation and locations through United Way on the Resource Navigator's Food Pantry Guide or follow us on Facebook @Live United Knox County Ohio.

In addition to regular pantry service, Interchurch Social Services, with the help of Food for the Hungry, has organized a special pop-up event this Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at Habitat for Humanity (405 W. Chestnut Street, Mount Vernon). Anyone making 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level can receive a box of food. Distribution events like this are expected to continue for as long as benefits are frozen.

If you would like to contribute toward the work of local food assistance efforts, you can donate at Food For The Hungry. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Resource Navigator at United Way, Walt Lewis, (walt@uwayknox.org) for a complete list of service opportunities.

The United Way is dedicated to helping residents find local assistance. For more information about community resources for a wide range of issues, including rental or utility assistance, please see our Resource Navigator guide.