ASHEVILLE – As federal food assistance benefits are set to pause in November because of the ongoing government shutdown, Buncombe County announced that it’s launching a county wide food drive to support MANNA FoodBank.
At an Oct. 30 press conference, county officials warned that more than 29,000 residents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will not receive their November benefit because of the lapse in federal funding. More than 10,000 Buncombe County children participate in the program, according to the county, with the average monthly benefit for individuals totaling more than $170.
“The consequences of the federal government shutdown are devastating and far reaching,” Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Edwards said during the press conference.
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Edwards speaks during a press conference on Oct. 30, 2025, at the Buncombe County Government Administration building in Asheville to discuss the local impacts of SNAP suspension.
“People’s livelihood and right to have food on the table is not, and never should be, political,” Edwards said. “In Buncombe County, we’re committed to taking care of our neighbors. And I want to be clear, people who receive SNAP are our neighbors.”
As the shutdown has entered its fifth week, Congressional Republicans and Democrats continue to blame one another for the impasse.
Produce is organized before a Bounty & Soul food drive in Swannanoa, October 23, 2024.
Meanwhile, in response to what the county and local nonprofit leaders expect to be a sharp increase in need, the county will receive donations of non-perishable food items at its 12 library locations. Foods items needed, according to the county, include shelf-stable foods, like canned fruits and vegetables; proteins, like chicken and tuna (pouches are preferred); and dried beans and rice.
A full list of needed items can be found on the county’s website at buncombenc.gov/993/Food-Resources.
Nonprofits like MANNA, which serves more than 137,000 Western North Carolina residents each month, and Swannanoa Valley-based Bounty & Soul are working to expand their capacity and distribution efforts in preparation for the increased need in food assistance.
On Oct. 30, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced nearly $18 million in contributions from the state and other organizations, like Medicaid managed care provider AmeriHealth Caritas and the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, would be distributed to local food banks across the state, including MANNA.
Bounty & Soul Deputy Director Paula Sellars speaks during a press conference on Oct. 30, 2025, at the Buncombe County Government Administration building in Asheville to discuss the local impacts of SNAP suspension.
Tropical Storm Helene, which devastated Buncombe County last September, has already stressed the region’s food systems and increased food insecurity, which remains high more than one year after the storm.
Paula Sellars, Bounty & Soul’s deputy director, said during the press conference that the organization, which provides fresh foods to those facing food insecurity, has been serving 26,000 individuals each month at its 10 weekly community markets. It’s expecting to soon double its operation because of the benefit pause.
Even when this latest shutdown-related funding lapse is resolved, Sellars warned that “permanent and substantial federal SNAP cuts are already written into law for 2026 and beyond.”
Earlier this year, Republicans in Congress passed a sweeping tax bill that’s now projected to cut $187 billion from the program over the next 10 years.
The state health department said the cuts could leave North Carolina on the hook for $420 million in extra cost share per year. It could even force the state to withdraw from the program entirely, which would further strain Western North Carolina food banks and nonprofits already facing a surge of need after Helene.
“While the nonprofit sector will work tirelessly, as we have post-Helene, to ensure our neighbors are fed and healthy, some community members — particularly children and the elderly — will experience hunger, and yes, even malnutrition at a scale we have not seen unless SNAP is restored or substantial resources are deployed,” Sellars said.
Francisco Chavez, Bounty & Soul’s LatinX program manager, looks over a table of produce before the start of the organization’s food drive in Swannanoa, October 23, 2024.
What can Buncombe County SNAP recipients do?
The county suggests SNAP recipients:
The county also said its health department is communicating with recipients directly to inform them of the pause in SNAP benefits and to share resources. The county’s instant management team, established to respond to the impacts of the government shutdown, is also working with the city of Asheville’s housing authority, the county said.
The county also suggests residents visit buncombenc.gov for more information on updates to Buncombe County’s response to the federal government shutdown. For questions regarding other resources that may be available to residents, including Helene recovery resources, call the One Buncombe Call Center at 828-250-6100.
People looks through produce offered at the Bounty & Soul Community Market in Black Mountain, November 14, 2023.
Need help?
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MANNA FoodBank. The Food Finder Tool, at mannafoodbank.org/where-to-get-help/, provides a map of MANNA FoodBank’s more than 220 nonprofit pantries, meal sites and other community-based organizations offering free food across 16 Western North Carolina counties, including the Qualla Boundary. For further assistance, call or text the Food Helpline between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 828-290-9749.
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Bounty & Soul. Multiple markets, offering free produce and other whole foods, operate throughout the weekend in Asheville, Black Mountain, Fairview and Swannanoa. View the locations and schedule at bountyandsoul.org/community/market-schedule/.
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YMCA of Western North Carolina. The free mobile food markets travel across the region, including to parks, libraries, health system offices and neighborhood hubs across Asheville, Candler, Clyde, Hendersonville, Leicester, Marshall, Marion, Mills River and Old Fort. View the schedule and locations at ymcawnc.org/programs/community/food-programs. The YMCA is offering financial assistance for memberships and programs for those affected by the shutdown. Call 828-251-5910 or email [email protected] for details.
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Asheville Poverty Initiative/12 Baskets Café. The café opens at 10 a.m. for free coffee and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for free lunch service and store on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 610 Haywood Road in West Asheville. For more, visit ashevillepovertyinitiative.org/12baskets.
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Haywood Street Congregation/Downtown Welcome Table. Free lunch is served from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays at 297 Haywood St. in Asheville. Meals are served family-style, with seating every half hour by checking into the reservation booth. For group seating, email [email protected] or call 828-575-2477, ext. 301. For more, visit haywoodstreet.org/downtown-welcome-table/.
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Southside Community Farm. The Southside Free Grocery Program serves the Southside neighborhood, a food desert, by providing an outdoor pantry and refrigerator stocked with produce grown at the urban farm. Locations include the Edington Center (133 Livingston St.), Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center (285 Livingston St.) and the South French Free Fridge and pantry (382 South French Broad Ave.) For more locations and details, visit southsidecommunitygarden.org.
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Food Connection. Fresh free meals are distributed from Food Connection “Beyond the Bus Line” distribution sites, including in Candler, Fairview, Leicester, Swannanoa and Weaverville. For the schedule and locations, visit food-connection.org.
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The Buncombe County Register of Deeds. The office at 205 College St. in downtown Asheville, operates a diaper bank during regular hours with free diapers, baby wipes and baby formula. Visit buncombenc.gov/m/NewsFlash/Home/Detail/204.
More: SNAP recipients, nonprofits prepare for fallout from expected pause in benefits
More: Food insecurity across WNC increased after Helene. A year later, it remains high
Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ahead of SNAP benefit pause, Buncombe County launching food drive
