Democratic state legislators are coordinating efforts with local faith organizations, civic groups, and nonprofit food banks to assist residents impacted by the uncertainty surrounding SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
More than 550,000 South Carolinians rely on SNAP to afford groceries, including more than 60,000 people in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties, according to the Department of Social Services. The looming expiration of SNAP benefits threatens to increase hunger at a time when grocery prices have already risen nearly 25% since 2020.
“No family in South Carolina should be wondering how they’re going to put food on the table,” Representative Courtney Waters (D-North Charleston) said. “If Congress and the White House won’t step up, then people here in the Lowcountry will. Now is the time for us to come together and help our neighbors, while continuing to call for federal leaders to extend SNAP benefits and protect our families from going hungry.”
Charleston’s Democratic lawmakers are working to assist local organizations such as Lowcountry Food Bank by coordinating food and monetary donations and working to establish additional food distribution sites.
Rep. Waters is joined in this effort by her fellow Democratic legislators in the Charleston County delegation: Rep. Wendell Gilliard (D-Charleston), Sen. Margie Bright Matthews (D-Walterboro), Rep. JA Moore (D-North Charleston), Sen. Ronnie Sabb (D-Greeleyville), Rep. Tiffany Spann-Wilder (D-North Charleston), Rep. Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston), Sen. Ed Sutton (D-Charleston), Sen. Deon Tedder (D-North Charleston), and Rep. Spencer Wetmore (D-Folly Beach).
Local residents who need help accessing food resources – as well as those who wish to donate to support the effort to help our neighbors during this time – are encouraged to contact the Lowcountry Food Bank and their distribution partners.