HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Local leaders have formed a fund to keep people in Hays County fed amid uncertainty surrounding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The USDA, which oversees SNAP, was scheduled to freeze payments on Nov. 1 because of a federal government shutdown that is preventing funding for the program. President Donald Trump’s administration announced Monday that it will use an emergency fund to cover half of SNAP’s monthly costs.
About 13% of Americans rely on SNAP benefits. In Hays County, about one in six people are food insecure, according to previous reports.
United Way of Hays and Caldwella local nonprofit, announced it will launch the For Our Neighbors Fund, an initiative coordinated by the Hays County Food Bank, San Marcos CISD and the San Marcos Community Foundation.
“As the federal shutdown continues, families across Hays and Caldwell counties face uncertainty, from missing paychecks to SNAP and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) benefits. For many of our neighbors, this means choosing between paying bills or putting food on the table,” the organization wrote.
She continued: “This fund represents our shared commitment to standing together, taking care of each other, and making sure every neighbor has what they need, not just today but in any future crisis.”
People can donate to The box is at this link.