DSS confirms SNAP benefits cut in half for November, Dogwood announces emergency funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered state agencies to reduce SNAP benefits, confirmed Burke County Department of Social Services Director Korey Fisher-Wellman on Wednesday.

Reductions will be applied to each household size based on updated federal tables. SNAP recipients will receive about half their benefits for the month of November he said.

“The state’s NC FAST system is processing the revised allotments, and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working to issue the reduced payments as quickly as possible,” Fisher-Wellman wrote.

The reduction only applies to November and does not affect benefits issued for prior months. Fisher-Wellman said more information “should be forthcoming from DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services)” for those directly affected.

Operation SNAP Gap in Burke to receive emergency funding from Dogwood Health Trust

Dogwood Health Trust announces $700K in emergency funding to help local communities purchase and distribute food to children and families in Western North Carolina (WNC) due to the recent disruptions in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit payments.

Approximately one in 10 people (11% of the population) in Western North Carolina receive SNAP. The federal program is one of the most effective tools for reducing hunger and child poverty in the U.S. — a vital and valuable investment in the health, well-being, dignity and economic stability of families.

“As food costs rise and families experience delays and reductions in their SNAP benefits during the federal government’s shutdown, we must all do our part to help our neighbors have the food and nutrition they need,” said Dr. Susan Mims, president and CEO at Dogwood Health Trust. “We are grateful to our grantee partners who are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us to care for our communities in this challenging time.”

Dogwood’s emergency support will:

• Support Farmers and Fresh, Healthy Food Distribution: A grant to Tractor Food & Farms will help purchase local, fresh food from WNC farmers, and coordinate healthy food distribution to local communities.
• Support Food Purchasing & Distribution through Food Pantries, Meal Sites and Community Organizations: Six regional WNC foundations will regrant dollars to efforts that feed families in the communities they serve: AMY Wellness Foundation (Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties); Gateway Wellness Foundation (“Operation SNAP Gap” in Burke, McDowell, Rutherford and Polk Counties); Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation (Highlands and Cashiers and surrounding areas); Nantahala Health Foundation (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary); Pisgah Health Foundation (Transylvania County); and WNC Bridge Foundation (all 18 WNC counties). Several of these foundations are investing complementary funding with Dogwood’s support.

Two active, existing Dogwood grants to MANNA FoodBank and WNC Communities are also helping with bulk food purchasing and healthy, fresh food distribution from farmers to community centers and food pantries respectively.

“Supporting a strong food system is part of Dogwood’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our region,” said Mims. “Beyond this emergency support, we have invested $10.4 million in food and farming efforts since 2019. We are hopeful that this emergency support will complement those efforts, and that SNAP will resume as soon as possible because private, philanthropic dollars cannot sustain these needs long-term.”