Starting November 1, about 75,000 residents of Camden County, including many children and families, are expected to lose access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to a service suspension. This interruption will affect roughly 14% of the county’s population, marking the first break in SNAP service in over six decades.
The Camden County Board of Commissioners and the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey have jointly issued a call for assistance from local businesses and community members. In their letter, they state that “about 14% of our residents in Camden County will be forced to depend on local resources like the Food Bank of South Jersey to put food on their table.” The letter further notes that SNAP supports more than 800,000 people across New Jersey, with nearly half being children, almost one-third individuals with disabilities, and one-fifth senior citizens.
To address the immediate needs caused by this gap in service, the organizations recommend several actions: providing monetary donations to the Food Bank of South Jersey—citing that such donations allow for greater purchasing power; organizing food drives with collection stations provided by the Food Bank; or contributing directly to local food pantries listed at www.camdencounty.com/snap-benefits-set-to-be– suspended-due-to-shutdown/.
“If you have any questions about this program, you can visit www.camdencounty.com/help-bridge-the-snap-gap/ or call (856) 225-5431,” states Christina Renna, President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey.
More details about how to support these efforts are available on the county’s official website.
