SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — With the government shutdown crossing the one month mark and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding still unclear, the Helpline Center is using their connections to help make sure everyone’s needs are met during the shutdown.
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Previously the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP, stated in a memo on their website “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
According to The Hill, The Trump administration will provide partial food stamp benefits this month. This comes after two federal judges ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue to fund SNAP.
South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden said in a social media post called on South Dakotans to donate to local food banks and for churches to conduct food drives.
“Over the last 100 years, our nation has become too dependent on government benefits. Don’t get me wrong – this safety net is important for those who are truly in need. But families need to be able to count on food reaching their tables – and that shouldn’t depend on the whims of politicians in Washington, DC,” Rhoden said. “It’s time for us to refocus on the importance of charity and support from churches for those in need.”
Amy Carter, Chief Operating Officer of The Helpline Center, said people are seeing a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the government shutdown and programs like SNAP.
“I think there’s a lot of worry that people are experiencing. Will this come through? Will I have food to put on the table? Will my job come back?” Carter said. “We is available for people to reach out to if they want to talk through some of those things or if they just have general questions, but most importantly we also have resource information.”
Carter said the Helpline Center offers assistance statewide in people looking for assistance and can connect with food pantries, utility assistance programs, assistance with transportation, mental health counsel, and heath care assistance among others.
Carter said they work with a lot of their community partners to try to maintain very up to date and current information to inform callers on the latest with SNAP benefits and the shutdown.
“We’re hearing more of that uncertainty that people just feeling anxious about things and so even if they maybe can find the information or they know who to call by contacting 211 or 988 we can just walk them through that a little bit and we can really just be a supportive listening ear for them,” Carter said.
211 is the number for Information and community resources, helping connect callers with resources for food, housing, and healthcare among others, while 988 is the number for the suicide and crisis lifeline.
Carter said they have a database of over 6,000 programs of statewide and national resources including everything from social service and governmental programs to food pantries at local churches, that they are constantly trying to update.
“Any organization that provides a service would be listed in our database,” Carter said. “We’re reaching out all the time to get new resources added. If new ones pop up and things like food banks across the state, we are obtaining that information and then passing that along to those that reach out to us.”
Carter added that events such as giveaways are also on their radar such as when several businesses in Sioux Falls announced ways they’re helping the community.
“The whole mission of the helpline centers to connect people with resources and support. We really want to make sure people know that we exist and that we are available to people during this time,” Carter said. “Maybe people are worried where do I go? How do I get help? Just start here because we can direct you to whatever organization or services are out there in a very personalized and individualized way.”
