SNAP Shutdown support

Many families are losing their SNAP and WIC benefits (you may know these as food stamps or EBT) because of the federal government shutdown. Current federal projections anticipate not being able to support this food assistance program from now through December 2025. As a result, our governor has released emergency funds from the "SC First Fund," a state emergency fund, to stock food banks. However, food banks are at a critical shortage, currently being only 23% full, and it will be mid-December before the emergency-funded food stocks increase.

Embark has families, seniors, and disabled individuals who depend on this supplemental assistance. We want to make sure no one in our Embark family goes without food during this time.

To address this problem, Embark is assisting families in need of food support for the next two months. We will be using the "Adopt-a-Family" model, which will be explained in the next section.

Here is what we are NOT doing to address this problem. We are not:

• Collecting canned goods, storing food, or becoming a food pantry for food distribution.
• Providing financial aid.
• Providing unlimited food support for an indefinite period of time.

This is a temporary, supplemental solution designed to bridge the gap until benefits resume. 

This support is for:

• Embark members only, not those outside of the Embark congregation
• Those who are currently receiving SNAP/WIC support and who are directly affected by this shutdown. 
• Food assistance only, not those who need ongoing bill or other financial assistance

Priority goes to:

• Families with young children
• Senior adults
• Members with disabilities

The "Adopt a Family" model works like this: 

• This system provides support for 2 weeks at a time.
• Families who need help can request support by filling out a request form. If an "in-need" family needs support for any additional 2 weeks, they need to re-submit the form.
• Families who want to support "in-need" families fill out a support form. If a supporting family wants to help past 2 weeks, they need to re-submit the form. 
• Jeremy Woods, our outreach coordinator, will pair, at a minimum, 3 supporting families for every 1 "in-need" family. This ensures this does not become a financial burden for supporting families.

If You Need Help:
1. Fill out this form. Link

What to Expect:

• You’ll be paired with 3 supporting families for two weeks of food support.
• All communication and support stays private between you and your support families.

If You Want to Help:
1. Sign up to “adopt” a family for two weeks by filling out this form. Link.

What to Expect: 

• Jeremy Woods will contact you to provide details for the family you're supporting.
• You will provide groceries, grocery gift cards, or ready-made meals for X number of meals and coordinate a drop-off with Jeremy.
• Jeremy will then coordinate with the "in-need" family for pickup of meals. 

Together, we can make sure no one in our church family goes hungry.