After initially pausing all new benefits due to the government shutdown, the federal government announced on Monday that people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will receive partial payments for November.
The change came after federal judges’ rulings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that Trump’s administration must preserve funding for the program following the federal government’s initial distribution pause of all new SNAP benefits effective Nov. 1.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced Monday that $62 million in state funding will go to covering the month of November’s SNAP benefits for residents. This announcement came after the Democrat declared a state of emergency.
[Prince George’s County food banks feeling pressure from high demand, loss of SNAP benefits]
SNAP benefits provide low-income families with the support they need to afford nutritious foods. In Prince George’s County, more than 110,000 residents depend on the benefits.
Here’s where community members can receive food assistance at no charge.
Located on the ground floor of the South Campus Dining Hall, this pantry provides food for any University of Maryland student, faculty or staff member in need.
Faculty and staff need to register before visiting and can visit the pantry twice per month, while students just need to bring their university ID card and a reusable bag.
College Park Community Food Bank
The College Park Community Food Bank, an independent nonprofit founded in 2008, distributes food every Saturday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at 9704 Rhode Island Ave.
The food bank mainly operates as a drive-thru and does not require any paperwork or information besides individuals’ zip code and family size. Families in need can expect a mix of fresh produce and non-perishable foods, such as canned produce, protein and rice or pasta, according to its website.
Mission of Love Charities Food Pantry
The food pantry provides food to residents of Prince George’s County, as well as those across the region. The pantry is open Monday through Friday at 6180 Old Central Ave. in Capitol Heights.
The pantry offers a different selection of food each day as it depends on donations from various organizations throughout the week. Some of the food pantry’s donors include Costco, Starbucks and Target.
[Here’s what to know about the nationwide pause in SNAP benefits]
In addition to the food pantry, Mission of Love Charities offers rental, security deposits and utility assistance, behavioral and mental health services, and interpretation services.
Community Outreach and Development CDC – Labor of Love Human Services Center
This center, located in Capitol Heights, houses a food pantry that is open Monday through Friday. Prince George’s County residents can receive three days’ worth of meat and basic foods.
Other perishable food items, such as fresh produce, are distributed by the pantry a few times per month. The center also offers tax preparation services and can provide diapers as they are available.
