More Ulster County Businesses Offering Free Food for SNAP Recipients

Due to the federal government shutdown, Hudson Valley families using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have yet to receive funds for the month of November.

SNAP, which is federally funded, provides qualified low income or disabled adults and families funds to buy groceries with an Electronic Benefit Transfer card. With a lack of benefits so far in November, however, many local governments, as well as local businesses, have offered their own assistance.

Local Hudson Valley Governments Move to Supplement SNAP Benefits

Across the Hudson Valley, local governments have announced plans to help their residents. In the City of Newburgh, for example, government officials recently shared the reallocation of $100,000 in grant money to purchase grocery store gift cards for more than 600 residents who would otherwise rely on SNAP benefits in November. There was a similar announcement from Ulster County.

Ulster County Government Shares $350,000 Investment for Local Food Pantries

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger shared a plan to use $350,000 in county funding to help supplement three of Ulster County's most prominent food banks including People's Place in Kingston, NY, multiple locations of Family of Woodstock, and the Rondout Valley Food Pantry in Stone Ridge, NY (learn how to help local food banks here). Several Ulster County businesses have made announcements of their own as well.

Ulster County Bakeries Offers Free Food to Local Families

Brooklyn Sour, an Ulster County-based bakery in Marbletown, NY recently responded to the loss of SNAP benefits by offering bread to families in need. "To all our neighbors in the Kingston, NY area - have you lost your SNAP benefits?", the business wrote on Instagram (below). "DM me — we’ll do our best to provide you with at least one fresh loaf of bread a week". A beloved New Paltz, NY bakery recently made a similar announcement.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brooklyn Sour (@brooklyn_sour)

 The Bakery in New Paltz, NY Offers Free Bagels to SNAP Users

The community favorite The Bakery in New Paltz, NY, which has faced recent struggles of their own, took to social media to offer weekly bagels to Ulster County Snap users. "As of today, The Bakery will be giving all SNAP recipients a half dozen bagels and 1/4 lb of plain cream cheese every week. You can also pick up a pie on Thanksgiving", they wrote (below).

Other Ulster County businesses who have established goodwill programs for local residents include Bluestone Roasting Company in Saugerties, NY, who recently announced the creation of a free meal board supported by their customers (below).