Custer County mobilizes food drives and short-term aid to backfill SNAP shortfalls amid shutdown

Custer County commissioners on Monday authorized immediate county-backed coordination of food drives and short-term assistance to backfill Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that stalled amid a federal government shutdown.

Chairman Bill Kanda called the special meeting to address delays in SNAP distributions and to assemble local partners who could provide rapid relief. "The main reason is getting back to our own people," Kanda said as he opened the meeting and explained the county’s intent to coordinate volunteers, churches and civic groups for a targeted response.

Human Services Director Vicky White told the board the department currently has 255 SNAP cases representing 437 individuals and that the county issued $78,642 in SNAP benefits in October. "We have 255 cases... a total of 437 children…