BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County officials on Friday said they plan to direct $4 million to local food assistance and resources in an effort to help residents and federal workers affected by the federal government shutdown.
The announcement came as Marylanders brace for looming cuts to federal food aid amid the ongoing shutdown, which is now in its fifth week.
More than 693,000 low-income Marylanders, including more than 270,000 children, are set to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance in November after the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed states that benefits would not be paid during the shutdown.
In Baltimore County, about 50,000 households, representing 100,000 residents, receive about $18.6 million in SNAP benefits each month.
In a statement, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said the money would be drawn from the county's supplemental fund balance and ensure families are not left without food.
“Baltimore County is stepping up to make sure families and federal employees in the County aren’t left behind,” Klausmeier said. “Food insecurity can happen quickly when paychecks stop, and we are helping to bridge that gap."
Here's a detailed breakdown of where the county plans to allocate the $4 million:
$3 million will support existing grantees engaged in food security efforts, including:
$750,000 will support existing county vendors providing food access, including:
The county said $500,000 will support additional nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. Eligible organizations can apply for funding through the Baltimore Community Foundation beginning the week of Nov. 10.
Residents in need of food assistance can locate nearby food distribution sites using the county’s Food Pantry Locator web tool, which provides details on hours of operation, contact information and directions.
A full list of food and community resources can also be found on the Baltimore County Government website.
The move by Baltimore County officials came a day after Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency due to the "widespread economic disruption and damage to the welfare of Marylanders caused by the prolonged shutdown of federal government operations."
In his executive order, Moore directed the state to send $10 million to Maryland food banks ahead of the lapse in SNAP benefits.
While the funds will not supplement lost SNAP benefits, the order directs money for food banks to be taken from the state's fiscal responsibility fund and administered by the Maryland Department of Human Services.
Other Baltimore County agencies are also working to ensure federal workers impacted by the shutdown continue to have access to resources, including internet access, resume writing support and more.
Several resources are available at the Baltimore County Public Library.
"Baltimore County is home to over 13,000 federal civilian jobs and 76 federal work establishments, along with several nonprofits that are navigating these uncertain times," library staff said in a news release. "As a trusted community institution, the library invites families to explore how our branches can help during this time."
Resources that can be found at the Baltimore County Public Library include:
Baltimore County Public Library has 19 branches and four mobile units. Branches are open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and select branches are open Sunday, 1-5 p.m. The digital library is available 24/7.