At a special session Nov. 4, the Summit Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to provide temporary emergency food assistance to people in Summit County who benefit from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was poised to stop issuing SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, but President Donald Trump’s administration was sued over the plan to withhold benefits, resulting in a judge ordering that the federal government tap into emergency funds to keep assistance going. The USDA recently sent out plans for SNAP recipients to receive partial payments, due to the court order, but the partial payments could take weeks for recipients to access.

The lapse in full funding of SNAP benefits comes as mountain-town communities — including Summit County — are seeing historic demand for food assistance even ahead of the federal benefits changes.

After meeting with local nonprofits at its Oct. 28 work session, the commissioners directed county staff to work on a plan to provide SNAP recipients with direct benefits during the pause.

County manager Dave Rossi said the program will spend up to $200,000 by distributing grocery cards to eligible SNAP beneficiaries. He and commissioner Tamara Pogue thanked county staff for quickly working to set up the program.

“We are waiting for your approval in order for us to get these grocery cards in the hands of people by the end of this week,” Rossi said.

Around 700 families and 1,400 individuals access SNAP benefits in Summit County, according to Adrienne Saia Isaac, the Summit County government communications director. Pogue said about one-third of the recipients are children.

“When the federal government abdicates its responsibility to folks on something as basic and fundamental as food, I think it is our moral obligation as county government to step up,” Pogue said.

The grocery cards will give SNAP recipients 45% of their normal bi-monthly SNAP benefit. The program will cost about $100,000 per month, and the resolution the commissioners passed approves the program for two months, dependent upon how long the federal government shutdown lasts. The maximum benefit per household will be $775 per month.

Pop-up food shares

The Family & Intercultural Resource Center, Smart Bellies and CAFE Food Rescue are working to help SNAP beneficiaries during the federal government shutdown as well. The nonprofits are putting on Pop-Up Food Shares, which are additional food distributions out of the resource center’s food market in Dillon.

A resource center news release stated each pop-up will include shelf-stable foods, eggs and milk to help bridge gaps in food assistance. To learn more about or sign up for the events, text “Food Share” to 726879.

The Summit County government is funding the first week of the pop-ups, but more funding and community support will be needed, the release stated.

Regular grocery appointments at the resource center will continue, with nearly 800 appointments available each week. Families can call the center’s front desk at 970-262-3888 to make a scheduled grocery appointment. 

Downstairs at Eric’s, a restaurant owned by commissioner Eric Mamula, posted Nov. 5 on its Facebook page that it is offering one free pizza to SNAP card holders through Nov. 23. The post asks benefit recipients to order in-person at the takeout window and states the offer is good for any size to-go-only pizza.