CORRECTION: A previous version of this story quoted the federal end-dates for emergency SNAP benefits. That date is April 16, 2022 for Hoosiers since Gov. Holcomb's Emergency Pandemic Order was allowed to expire.
FRANKLIN — Hoosiers who have relied on emergency SNAP benefits during the pandemic will no longer have access to those additional benefits in mid-April.
This is all because the state's pandemic public health emergency declaration is no longer in effect.
“When they hear that the food stamps are cut, that's going to scare some of the people. This is at a time when food prices are rising. We all face that when we go to the supermarket and the under-resourced people it hits extra hard because they don’t have the money to start with to afford that,” said Carol Phipps, executive director of Franklin-based Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County.
Since April 2020, Federal COVID-19 emergency funding has allowed Hoosiers who benefit from the SNAP program to receive the maximum amount.
“At the start of the pandemic, things doubled. People were really struggling and panicking. Now, we continue to see about 30 percent more than pre-pandemic, and the numbers have not receded,” Phipps said.
The food pantry has been around for more than 30 years and serves all Hoosiers.
Jean Mills has been going there for the last three years.
“It helps with groceries and especially now that the grocery prices are so high that when you live on social security, you don’t have a lot of money,” Mills said.
Mills makes the trip from Greenwood to use the pantry at least once a month. She says when you are trying to feed children the extra food helps.
“The food is good, it's not outdated, it helps with your grocery bill and as you can, other people do too,” Mills added.
The latest numbers from January show more than 607,000 Hoosiers received snap benefits.
Due to the expiration of the Governor's Emergency Pandemic Order and subsequent ending of the health emergency, the extra benefits those Hoosiers are receiving is set to expire on April 16, 2022.
“When you live on social security and a certain amount of money and you got to pay rent well do you eat or pay rent. So this helps out with paying for the food,” Mills said.
Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County is looking for volunteers. Those interested should visit the pantry's website.
If you need help finding a food pantry in your area, click here.
-
Monroe County cancels homeless camp eviction on county-owned land
Monroe County hoped to remove a homeless community between Switchyard Park and RCA Community Park before Christmas. Instead, the tents will remain for the foreseeable future.
Damien Center urges lawmakers to extend Indiana needle exchange programs
Each year, the Damien Center says they have about 5,000 visits from people in need of clean needles.
Brownsburg APC to vote on Hawks Landing subdivision amid resident concerns
Proposed development would bring more than 100 homes near Green Street and Acre Lane, with neighbors raising concerns about traffic and its proximity to Oinking Acres.
Report ranks Indiana worst in the country for roads
A new survey of truck drivers and owner-operators ranks Indiana as having the worst roads in the country.
