Governor Josh Stein visited MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, where he volunteered and presented a $585,000 donation from the State of North Carolina. This action is part of his ongoing effort to increase both public and private support for food banks across the state.
The visit comes at a time when recent federal government shutdowns had prevented the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) from distributing full benefits to recipients. However, new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow NCDHHS to load full benefits onto recipients’ cards starting tomorrow morning.
“MANNA FoodBank has remained committed to its mission of feeding North Carolinians, both after the Hurricane Helene destroyed their facility and while the federal administration paused SNAP payments,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We have to make sure our neighbors can put food on the table. North Carolina is doing its part to support families, and it’s past time for the federal government to do the same.”
Claire Neal, CEO of MANNA FoodBank, commented on the partnership: “At MANNA, we believe that everyone—our families, our veterans, our children—deserves access to healthy food. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that no one in western North Carolina has to worry about where their next meal will come from. We are deeply grateful for Governor Stein and the State of North Carolina’s continued partnership and investment in keeping our neighbors nourished during this challenging time.”
Earlier this week, Governor Stein also volunteered at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and presented a $3.34 million donation on behalf of the state. Over three weeks, nearly $22 million has been deployed by his office through a public-private partnership with contributions from organizations such as AmeriHealth Caritas, The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, and The Duke Endowment.
Despite these efforts by state officials and private donors, there remains an urgent need for federal assistance for more than 1.4 million residents who rely on SNAP benefits.
NCDHHS continues outreach efforts by directly communicating with those affected by benefit disruptions and providing updates on its website dedicated to information about impacts from the federal government shutdown. Updates are also being made regularly on its SNAP program page with additional details and frequently asked questions.
Guidance provided by NCDHHS encourages beneficiaries to keep checking their EBT card balances using resources like ebtEDGE.com or calling 1-888-622-7328. Individuals needing immediate food assistance can call 2-1-1 or visit NCDHHS’s website for information about local food pantries.
