NASW-NC Resources for Government Shutdown and Loss of SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ran out of funds on November 1. SNAP provides food purchasing assistance to low-income families in communities across America and is the largest nutrition assistance program in the nation with an average of 41.7 million participants a month in FY 2024.

On October 30, 2025, Governor Josh Stein announced that the State of North Carolina will grant $10 million to local food banks across the state. The State is joined by AmeriHealth Caritas, which will give $5 million, The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, which will accelerate $2.5 million from a previously announced $10 million gift, and other donors. These announcements come as food banks prepare for an influx of need following the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s decision to suspend the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November. 
“With the help of generous partners, North Carolina is taking action to keep families fed,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Shoring up our state’s food banks will serve as a critical, but fleeting, lifeline for families in need, and I hope other North Carolina organizations will also step up in this time of need. Whether it’s paying our military, ensuring no child goes hungry, or lowering health care costs, leaders in Washington need to come together immediately to find a bipartisan solution that provides long-term stability for millions of Americans.”  

More than 1.4 million North Carolinians, including hundreds of thousands of children, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families, rely on SNAP benefits to afford the rising cost of groceries. For every one meal a food bank provides to families, SNAP provides nine.  

Click here to read the full press release from Governor Stein.

NASW-NC is committed to helping those effected by the 2025 Government Shutdown, which has lead to the loss of SNAP benefits to many North Carolinians across the state. We have compiled a list of resources for those in need including food pantries, hot meal locations, pet food pantries and more!

Click here to read NASW's Policy Statement on Snap Benefits.

Please click here to view the resources page!