Summit County Council approved $250,000 in emergency funding on Oct. 27 to help thousands of residents at risk of losing their food assistance during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won't be issued Nov. 1 because of lack of funds.

In response, council members approved County Executive Ilene Shapiro's request to provide a $250,000 grant to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to assist residents losing their SNAP benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps.

The funds will help expand the food bank’s capacity to serve local families who may experience food insecurity as a result of the federal funding lapse, according to a news release from Shapiro's office.

More than

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