Mecklenburg Allocates $740K Amid Partial SNAP Payments

Mecklenburg County will allocate $740,000 to help about 138,500 residents affected by the suspension of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown, mobilizing local partners for immediate relief. The funds will purchase 28,000 seven-day meal boxes through Nourish Up, expand food pantry capacity at community resource centers, provide $50 food-only gift cards to newly approved emergency SNAP recipients, distribute about 2,000 $50 farmers market vouchers, operate mobile markets for seniors, and run holiday turkey and other donation drives. County leaders warned these measures cannot replace roughly $24 million in monthly SNAP benefits and urged a federal resolution as families continue to face hardship. The federal government initially paused SNAP payments but, after court rulings, said it would use emergency funds to make partial (about 50%) payments; North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and other states have sued to restore full benefits. Separately, York County groups launched a "Nourish Now: Food Relief Fund" with roughly $65,000 in grants to assist similarly impacted residents.