Ramsay County Steps Up to Aid Food-Sheltered Residents Amidst Ongoing Shutdown
Ramsey County officials have announced a $450,000 allocation to support local food shelves and purchase infant formula, amidst the federal shutdown's ongoing impact on vulnerable residents. The funding includes $380,000 for county-resident access to food shelves and $70,000 set aside for buying infant formula if there is a significant disruption in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) benefits.
"We cannot wait for the full impact of this court decision to be realized," said Rafael Ortega, chair of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. "Families and children deserve access to food and essential resources now." The recent court order directing the federal government to continue SNAP benefits is a positive step, but its full effects remain uncertain.
To support those struggling during the shutdown, the city of St. Paul has launched a food drive. In the meantime, Ramsey County's funding will be directed to 11 local food shelves serving residents in need, including Keystone Community Services, Neighborhood House, and Open Cupboard.
According to estimates, approximately 35,500 households (68,500 individuals) receive SNAP benefits in Ramsay County. Approximately 3,500 county households (9,800 individuals) rely on the Minnesota Family Investment Program for food assistance. Both programs have stopped providing aid due to a lack of federal funding during the shutdown.
WIC has been impacted by the shutdown as well, with over 17,900 Ramsey County residents currently receiving benefits. If the federal shutdown results in significant disruptions to WIC, the county plans to use its reserved $70,000 for infant formula.
These efforts come as SNAP and MFIP provide critical support to Ramsay County residents, providing around $14 million per month in benefits. On average, recipients receive just $170 per month for food through SNAP, highlighting the urgent need for assistance during this time.
Ramsey County officials have announced a $450,000 allocation to support local food shelves and purchase infant formula, amidst the federal shutdown's ongoing impact on vulnerable residents. The funding includes $380,000 for county-resident access to food shelves and $70,000 set aside for buying infant formula if there is a significant disruption in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) benefits.
"We cannot wait for the full impact of this court decision to be realized," said Rafael Ortega, chair of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. "Families and children deserve access to food and essential resources now." The recent court order directing the federal government to continue SNAP benefits is a positive step, but its full effects remain uncertain.
To support those struggling during the shutdown, the city of St. Paul has launched a food drive. In the meantime, Ramsey County's funding will be directed to 11 local food shelves serving residents in need, including Keystone Community Services, Neighborhood House, and Open Cupboard.
According to estimates, approximately 35,500 households (68,500 individuals) receive SNAP benefits in Ramsay County. Approximately 3,500 county households (9,800 individuals) rely on the Minnesota Family Investment Program for food assistance. Both programs have stopped providing aid due to a lack of federal funding during the shutdown.
WIC has been impacted by the shutdown as well, with over 17,900 Ramsey County residents currently receiving benefits. If the federal shutdown results in significant disruptions to WIC, the county plans to use its reserved $70,000 for infant formula.
These efforts come as SNAP and MFIP provide critical support to Ramsay County residents, providing around $14 million per month in benefits. On average, recipients receive just $170 per month for food through SNAP, highlighting the urgent need for assistance during this time.
$450k is just a drop in the bucket, but I guess it's better than nothing 
formula is like, $10 a can & that's like, SO expensive for these families 
they deserve better than bein forced 2 choose between eatin or puttin diapers on their babies 
& i'm still tryna process how we got here 
all this gov't stuff & shutdwns & it feels like no one's doin anything 2 help these ppl 
so i'm just gonna keep reppin the county & hope that someone, anyone, is listenin 
. But on the bright side, Ramsey County is stepping up to support those in need - $450k is a huge amount for a food drive & infant formula 
! And I love how they're directing it to local food shelves too - like Keystone Community Services and Neighborhood House are doing amazing work 
. It's just not enough, but every little bit counts, right? 
my heart goes out to all these fams who cant afford milk for their babies 
or food on the table... its a total shame that ppl r having to choose between paying rent & buying groceries 
its all about spreading love & kindness during hard times 
oh man, I'm so worried about these families struggling with food and formula... it's just not fair that they have to go without because of a shutdown 
. And infant formula? That's just heartbreaking 
. We need to do better for these people, for their health and well-being 
I think it's great that Ramsey County is stepping up to help out, but we need more support from the federal government. The fact that families are getting just $170 per month for food through SNAP is just heartbreaking 
This shutdown is getting out of hand! I mean, what's going on with all these programs? Can't we just get some stability and support for people who really need it? I feel like $450k isn't even a drop in the bucket when you consider how many people are affected. 
! But seriously, it's awesome that Ramsey County is stepping up to help those in need. I mean, who doesn't love a good food drive? 
The fact that they're allocating $450k to support local food shelves and infant formula is like, woah! That's some serious TLC for the community 
.
I'm seeing some really heartbreaking stuff online about families struggling due to the shutdown 
.