City of Columbia, Boone County amend ARPA contracts to provide $100,000 in emergency food assistance amid federal shutdown, SNAP benefit pause

(COLUMBIA, MO) ~ Columbia and Boone County have taken action to address the ongoing federal government shutdown and the temporary suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The City of Columbia and Boone County have each amended their existing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) contracts to allocate a total of $100,000 in emergency funding, with $50,000 going to each entity.

The emergency funding will be directed to The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, an organization that provides food assistance to individuals and families in need. This allocation will help provide immediate relief to those affected by the pause in federal benefits.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe expressed the importance of this funding, stating that many households in the community rely on SNAP to meet their basic needs. She emphasized that this emergency allocation ensures that The Food Bank can continue to serve families who are suddenly without this vital support.

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While food assistance is a pressing need, local officials also recognize that other basic needs such as housing, utilities, and childcare will require attention in the coming weeks. To address these broader impacts, several local partners are joining forces once again to mobilize community support.

The City of Columbia, Boone County, Community Foundation of Central Missouri, Heart of Missouri United Way, and Veterans United Foundation are reactivating the CoMoHelps initiative. This initiative was originally launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to collect and distribute donations where they are most needed.

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick stressed the importance of community involvement in addressing food insecurity. He stated that by reactivating CoMoHelps, they are ensuring that community donations go directly to organizations that can respond quickly and effectively.

Residents who wish to help can donate to CoMoHelps at comohelps.org. All contributions will support local nonprofits providing essential services and basic needs to residents of Boone County and Columbia during this time of uncertainty.

Other media contacts for this initiative include Eric Sappington from the Community Foundation of Central Missouri, Talia Jackson from Heart of Missouri United Way, Erik Morse from Veterans United Foundation, and Joanne Nelson from Boone County Community Services.

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