MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Monongalia County community continue to address food insecurity as the federal government shutdown continues to affect programs such as SNAP.
With the shutdown now at Day 36 with no signs of a slowdown in sight, representatives that support the student food pantries at West Virginia University announced that select staff members have now begun to receive items from five “The Rack” locations across campus. Program Assistant Syndi Vega confirmed on WAJR’s Talk of the Town on Wednesday that just over 1,000 students have been served since the shutdown, with a steady increase in the days since SNAP benefits expired. This is coinciding with local religious organizations teaming up to make sure no one in the Greater Morgantown area goes hungry.
“Every year we tend to see an increase in need, but especially since the government shutdown, we’re definitely seeing more students in need, and we also see faculty and staff at WVU in more need right now,” said Vega. “And we’re extending a hand to them as well.”
According to Vega, the just over 1,000 WVU students and select staff members that have taken advantage of food provided at ‘The Rack’ locations around campus have had a chance to receive a combination of produce and non-perishable items that are seen at other food pantries around the Morgantown area. Despite concerns related to supply meeting demand, organizations such as Pantry Plus More, Empty Bowls Mon, and Christian Help have all coordinated with each other to distribute any items of excess that may be in short supply at a different location. While items such as cooking supplies and toiletries are also offered at ‘The Rack’ locations, Morgantown area residents are still encouraged to donate if possible.
“If you’re here in town and you see that you have some stuff in your pantry that’s not expired and not open that you would like to give, you can always just pop on down to our downtown location and donate that in person,” said Vega.
WVU has one ‘The Rack’ location on the downtown campus, four are located on the Evansdale campus.
For nonprofits and religious organizations around the Morgantown area, the pause in SNAP benefits has prompted the combination of four different efforts to collect food during the government shutdown. This collaboration between the First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown, the Morgantown Church of the Brethren, Westover United Methodist Church, and Woodland United Methodist Church will combine any donations of produce and non-perishables to be sent to food banks in the Greater Morgantown community. This will account for requests that have almost quadrupled for the food programs that normally host 150 people at First Presbyterian Church.
“There are four congregations in different parts of the Morgantown area where you can drop off food items,” said First Presbyterian Church Reverend Zach Morton. “The four sites are First Presbyterian Church, we’re in downtown, Westover United Methodist Church, Morgantown Church of the Brethren, and Woodlands United Methodist Church.”
For the five locations that are currently open by the WVU ‘Rack’ and the four churches that will accept donations, it is expected that the ongoing shutdown will lead to a significant number of food requests with SNAP benefits still not set to resume. Already, both Vega and Morton are seeing requests that have been made by residents, such as WVU staff members, with Morton reporting that his church has seen food requests triple at the minimum. Understanding the potential long-term prospects that the shutdown could continue for a while, residents are encouraged to look around the Morgantown area if you’re looking to help those in need.
“We kind of felt that we have an obligation and responsibility to step up and do our part among a lot of other good people in our community,” said Morton. “To make sure that people have food on the table in the coming months.”
WVRC Media, Titan Roofing, and the United Way of Monongalia and Preston County Helpful Harvest Food Program will team up to host a food drive at the University Town Centre Giant Eagle from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 7.