With a federal government shutdown that’s entered it’s fourth week, many in this country that depend on their government to provide them with paychecks or benefits have legitimate worries about feeding their families.
With the news that contingency funds will go to partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the month of November, families that depend on those benefits gained a little room to breathe.
However, families in the Newton County area that are being affected by the government shutdown should know that they do have a lifeline in local food pantries within the county. One in particular is the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) at the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority V, located in Newton, which serves the 11 counties in its district.
According to MRHAV Executive Director Ashiya Hawkins, signing up for TEFAP is an easy process, and families that participate in programs such as SNAP, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicaid, should know they are eligible to receive TEFAP foods.
“Anyone that thinks they meet the income threshold that is considered extremely low within the eleven counties we serve, you’re more than likely going to qualify,” said Hawkins. “We just generally ask you what your monthly income. We don’t ask you to provide any verification. We take it for face value.”
Hawkins added that they have had a steady growth of families that have signed up for the program in the recent months, and it could grow more due to the ongoing government shutdown and the coming holiday months.
“We started with a little over 100 families, and every month it grows. We’re at over 300 families now,” Hawkins said. “We get a lot of food from the USDA, but once we go through that delivery process during that month, we almost wipe the shelves clean.”
Community members who would like to contribute towards the food pantry are welcome to donate dry goods, canned foods, or anything that could feed a family at Thanksgiving.
“We could always use the support from the community or anyone that would like to give,” said Hawkins. “Anything sealed, like dry beans, mac and cheese, flour, meal, pancake mix, sugar, jelly, you name it, it’s been on our shelves. We also consider things for kids to eat when they’re out for the holiday’s or for their summer.”
Along with providing food for those in need, the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority V is also handing out winter jackets for needy families, as well as socks for the elderly.
If you’re in need of signing up for the TEFAP program, need a winter coat, or would like to donate food, jackets, or socks, visit the MRHAV central office located at 298 Northside Drive in Newton. Donations can be dropped off at the front desk. For more information, contact the office at 601-683-3371. Office hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. The office is closed on Fridays.
