‘Oh SNAP!’: Fundraiser opens to support Topeka families

TOPEKA (KSNT) – The City of Topeka is launching a fundraising campaign to help local families who are suffering due to shortages in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The City of Topeka’s new “Oh SNAP!” campaign aims to help provide financial relief to members of the local community during the holidays. It will help make sure that families have access to enough food and other essential resources while SNAP benefits remain on shaky ground.

“The City of Topeka wants to do its part to help our community during the Federal Government shut down,” said Topeka City Manager Robert Perez. “With SNAP benefits on hold, many families are facing real uncertainty. The ‘Oh SNAP!’ campaign brings our City and local partners together to provide immediate support and ensure our neighbors have what they need to get through the holidays.”

Members of the Topeka Fire Department and Office of Inclusive Communities will be collecting money on Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15 in a “Pass the Hat” campaign. Members of the community can help out by filling fire helmets with cash or checks at one of the five designated collection sites.

The United Way of Kaw Valley is also helping the city to collect the cash and distribute it throughout the community by giving it to local organizations that assist families who are being impacted by the SNAP funding gap. People can also make donations online if they can’t make it to one of the collection sites.

“Our firefighters see firsthand how financial stress impacts families,” said TFD Interim Chief Chad Longstaff. “The Topeka Fire Department is proud to be part of this effort. We’re asking the community to join us in lending a hand to those who need it most right now.”

You can make donations online by using this link and choosing the “One-Time Payment” option. Then choose “Finance Misc. Billing” as the payment category and, lastly, enter “Oh SNAP” into the account number field.

People can drop cash donations off from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov.14-15. Physical collection locations are below:

• Lyman and Tyler.
• 37th and Topeka Boulevard.
• 17th and Arvonia.
• 29th and California.
• Topeka Boulevard and Huntoon.

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