Agriculture Department partners with agencies to provide food support

As the federal government shutdown continues, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced a partnership with multiple organizations to provide food assistance to those in need.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would be suspended in November due to the government shutdown. SNAP benefits reportedly help more than 40 million Americans each month, including nearly 600,000 Kentuckians.

A federal judge ruled in favor of using contingency funds to continue SNAP. People will see a delay in their benefits. The shutdown has caused many federal workers to be furloughed or to work without pay, and Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam says about 4,000 households in Christian County have been affected.

The state Agriculture Department and Feeding Kentucky have partnered with Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Evans Orchard and Cider Mill, and the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, who together have provided around $141,000 for food assistance. Tyson Foods has also donated around 20,000 pounds of chicken products.

The funds and assistance will go toward preparing and distributing food boxes through Feeding Kentucky’s network. Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell says this collaboration shows that when multiple state agencies and organizations unite, they can overcome any challenge.

More information about food assistance resources is available at kyagr.com.