New Milford council backs emergency food drive after SNAP disruption; extends tax-payment grace for furloughed federal workers

The New Milford Mayor and Council approved an emergency, weeklong food drive and adopted a resolution extending the borough’s tax-payment grace period for residents who are furloughed federal employees, after officials said hundreds of local households face a lapse in SNAP benefits.

“There's 336 families in Milford that will not be getting their SNAP benefits on November 1st,” the mayor said when proposing the drive, noting the borough would collect donations at municipal drop-off points and at a Friday high-school football game. The council unanimously approved a plan to accept nonperishable food and ShopRite gift cards at borough buildings, the senior center, the library, the police lobby and at the Ascension Church food pantry.

Council members and staff stressed partnering with schools and existing pantry networks to reach families. Commissioner Tracy Zur (as introduced in the meeting) told the council that corporate donations to pantries have declined since March, increasing local demand.

Separately, during public comment resident Kathy Bell described being furloughed and asked the council to act. The council adopted a resolution to extend the tax-payment grace period for residents who are furloughed or who work during a federal shutdown but are not being paid; the measure was listed on the consent calendar and passed with the other resolutions presented that night.

Officials said the emergency collection will run the week after the meeting and that the borough intends to distribute collected items through the Ascension Church pantry. Council members said the food drive is intended as a short-term bridge until state or federal benefit disruptions are resolved.