In a recent show of support for tackling food insecurity, Governor Josh Stein made a stop at MANNA FoodBank in Asheville where he engaged in volunteer work and presented a significant donation to aid those facing hunger. Stein brought a $585,000 check from the State of North Carolina, part of his larger initiative to increase both public and private donations to food banks across the state. The gesture comes at a crucial time, especially considering the recent complications arising from the government shutdown, which stalled North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) from distributing full food benefits.
Thanks to new guidelines from the USDA, NCDHHS will now be able to load full benefits onto recipients’ EBT cards as of tomorrow morning. "MANNA FoodBank has remained committed to its mission of feeding North Carolinians, both after the Hurricane Helene destroyed their facility and while the federal administration paused SNAP payments," Gov. Stein stated. He also added that North Carolina is doing its part and that it's time for the federal government "to do the same." This sentiment was stressed in a statement obtained by the official press release from the Office of the Governor.
MANNA FoodBank's CEO, Claire Neal, echoed the Governor's concerns and thanked him for the state's partnership. "We are deeply grateful for Governor Stein and the State of North Carolina's continued partnership and investment in keeping our neighbors nourished during this challenging time," Neal told the Office of the Governor. Her organization holds firm to the belief that everyone, including families, veterans, and children, deserves access to healthy food and she reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that communities in western North Carolina do not have to worry about their next meal.
In a span of just over three weeks, Governor Stein has managed to deploy nearly $22 million in donations to various food banks through a public-private partnership. This includes major donors like AmeriHealth Caritas, The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, and the Duke Endowment. However, notwithstanding the surge in state and private efforts, Stein insists that federal action is critically needed to support more than 1.4 million North Carolinians who rely on SNAP. This push for federal intervention was emphasized in the announcement detailing the Governor's activities at MANNA FoodBank.
Meanwhile, NCDHHS has been actively communicating with SNAP beneficiaries and updating their websites with frequent updates to guide individuals who are impacted by the shutdown. They've advised people to continuously check the balance on their EBT cards and provided details on how this can be done through the ebtEDGE app, their website, or by calling the customer service number. For immediate food assistance, NCDHHS is directing those in need to call 2-1-1 for local resources or visit the department's dedicated food access website to find nearby food pantries.
