Town Manager reported that the town is preparing an interdepartmental response in case a federal government shutdown interrupts SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) distributions. The manager said the town estimates roughly 2,300 Norwood households rely on SNAP and that benefits are typically distributed across the first 15 days of a month; if benefits do not arrive by Nov. 1, affected households could lack access to meals.

"We're gonna coordinate some donations between the schools and the senior center and the police department," the manager said, describing plans for a meal-in-a-bag program, limited staples drives and gift-card donations. The manager said the town will prioritize families with children and other high-need groups and will use existing community partners — including the senior center, schools and the housing authority — to distribute assistance and identify needs.

Officials said the program would be time-limited and targeted, and that the town lacks a standing appropriation for large-scale food purchases. The manager suggested a readiness target in early November: if the federal government remained closed by Nov. 3 6, the town planned to begin weekly increments of assistance for a few weeks. He said local food partners and volunteer groups are being mobilized and that the town will publish instructions for residents and donors on its website.

Board members asked how residents could help; the manager said town communications will describe donation options (gift cards, food staples) and drop-off/volunteer opportunities. The town stressed this is an interim measure pending federal action, not a replacement for SNAP.