DuPage committee backs plan to redirect $2.1M in small-grant funds to food aid amid SNAP uncertainty

Chair opened the meeting by flagging a growing food‑security crisis tied to possible interruptions in SNAP benefits and said county leaders and community partners had met to consider immediate responses.

Mary, a community services official, told the committee county staff are directing residents to a network of about 47 food pantries, increasing emergency food bags for walk‑in clients and buying gift cards funded from the county’s DSSA charitable fund to help households who arrive at county offices. "We're making sure folks are directed to food pantries," Mary said. She added that large pantries have been asked to coordinate operationally and that the county would ask employees to consider contributions to the DSSA fund to cover immediate needs.

Committee members discussed communication and logistics. The county’s communications office pointed members to a press release and to…