The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments are expected to be processed by Friday morning. This follows the recent resolution by Congress to end the federal government shutdown and updated guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Approximately 600,000 households in North Carolina will have their full SNAP benefits loaded onto their EBT cards by Friday. On November 7, NCDHHS had issued partial benefits at about 65% of the normal maximum allotment due to earlier USDA guidance during the shutdown. Some households received reduced amounts or no benefits at all. With the new directive, all SNAP recipients in North Carolina will now receive their full November benefits, and December benefits will be distributed on the usual schedule.
NCDHHS is providing updates for beneficiaries on its website dedicated to information about the federal government shutdown and has added more details and a FAQ section to its SNAP website. The department encourages recipients to check their EBT card balances using the ebtEDGE app, online at ebtEDGE.com, or by calling 1-888-622-7328.
“If you or your family is in immediate need for food resources, please call 2-1-1 to be connected with local resources. You can also visit the NCDHHS website dedicated to food access to find a food pantry closest to you,” according to NCDHHS.
North Carolina’s network of regional food banks and partner organizations continues efforts to support residents facing food insecurity caused by disruptions in SNAP benefit distribution. These include Food Bank of the Albemarle, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast NC, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, MANNA Food Bank, and NC211.
“Even with robust support, food banks can provide only a fraction of the nutritional assistance that federal programs like FNS provide. For every meal that a food bank provides to neighbors experiencing hunger, FNS provides nine,” NCDHHS stated.
In Franklin County specifically, several community organizations offer emergency food assistance:
– Franklin County Interfaith Council: Contact Beverly Kegley at 919-495-4441.
– Abundant Blessings Franklin County Missions at Vollmer Farms: Emergency needs call 984-204-0427.
– Care and Share Inc.: Emergency needs call 919-496-5721.
– Faith Baptist Church Dorcas Ministry Food Pantry: By appointment; contact Robin Wilkie at 919 556-3420 ext. 135.
– Glory Cloud & Fire Ministries: Call church at 919-269-5830 or Minister Prince at 919-601-9641.
– Hickory Rock Baptist Church: Call 919-497-0604.
– Nelson Chapel Baptist Church: Call 919-496-2580.
– New Life Outreach Ministry: Call 919-494-2147.
– Oak Level Christian Church: Visit oaklevelchurch.net/community/ or email [email protected].
Other resources include Sowing Seeds (919‑375‑3002), Our Lady of the Rosary Food Pantry (919‑340‑0556), Salvation Army serving Franklin County (252‑438‑7107 ext.3), Blessings Inc/St. Paul Presbyterian Church (919‑729‑0001), The Journey Ministry Pantry (Director: 919‑234‑7149), Pantry of H.O.P.E (919‑671‑3010), Maple Springs Baptist Church Outreach (919‑727‑7115), Cowboy Church Food Pantry (919‑945‑9636), Sandy Creek Baptist Church (919‑853‑2317), OASIS Food Pantry–and–Distribution Center (252–621–5190 ext.104; www.turningpointcdc.org), and The Help Center located at Care & Share Building (www.thehelpcenternc.com; 919–391–7300).
Recent data from Franklin County school districts shows ongoing challenges beyond nutrition assistance as well. In the 2022–23 school year:
– Only about 14.9% of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT were considered ready for college (source).
– Among juniors taking science ACTs, just over one in ten met college readiness benchmarks (source).
– For reading portions among seniors and juniors respectively, roughly one-quarter achieved college readiness (source, source).
– Math readiness was lower still—12.7% for seniors and only about one in ten juniors reached this level (source, source).
Residents seeking further information are encouraged to consult official state websites or contact local service providers directly.
