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As the federal government shutdown threatens food assistance benefits for 56,000 North Dakotans, Governor Kelly Armstrong announced in a Thursday press release that ND food assistance programs will receive more than $1.5 million in state funding.
The state is directing $915,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank to purchase 450,000 pounds of food, helping approximately 24,000 households. Another $600,000 will support the Women, Infants & Children program through November.
About 28,000 households face losing federal SNAP benefits on November 1st when federal funding expires. Nearly half of affected households have children under 18.
Armstrong urged residents to donate to local food pantries and called on Senate Democrats to pass a continuing resolution to reopen the government. The state cannot directly backfill SNAP benefits due to program infrastructure limitations, according to the release. SNAP recipients with remaining balances after Oct. 31 will be able to use the benefits in November.
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