West Virginia gives $2.5M more to state’s food banks ahead of SNAP pause

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) -West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey says the state has given food banks an additional $2.5 million to help sustain them through the weekend, as a pause on the federal program is set to kick in on Saturday, Nov. 1.

This announcement comes after the governor announced on Wednesday that $5 million of $13 million allotted to help food banks and food pantries during the pause has been distributed. On top of a $1.1 million already expedited earlier this month, that makes at least $8.6 million already sent to the food banks before the pause begins.

On Tuesday, Morrisey announced the $13 million and challenged private donors to also donate to the food banks in hopes of doubling that amount. He says the funds will be given to Mountaineer Food Bank and Facing Hunger Foodbank to use and distribute among their partner food pantries.

Morrisey also announced on Tuesday that he was directing the West Virginia National Guard to activate at least 200 members in State Active Duty Status to help the food banks and food pantries with distribution efforts. Their mission is to assist with receiving, sorting, transporting, storing, packaging and distributing food, as well as helping with traffic control and making sure distribution sites remain safe and orderly.

Friday morning, the WVNG announced they have already been activated for this mission. Friday afternoon, Morrisey said the plan is to have some food banks open this weekend with a goal of having food available in every county on Saturday and Sunday.

To learn more about how to find food assistance programs in West Virginia, click here. For programs in southeastern Ohio and eastern Kentucky, click here.

Anyone in need of assistance can call 211 or visit wv211.org for food assistance and local pantry information. You can also contact your local Family Resource Network for support.

If you’d like to help, you can donate to Mountaineer Food Bank here, or Facing Hunger Foodbank here.