Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state is starting a food drive as a response to the looming loss of federal food assistance this weekend amid the government shutdown.
Beshear said in his weekly press conference that boxes will be stationed in the lobbies of major state office buildings in Frankfort and the L&N Building in Louisville between Oct. 30 and Nov. 21 to collect non-perishable food for those in need. The governor added that the donated items will go to established charities like Dare to Care, God’s Pantry and Christian Appalachian Project to distribute to Kentuckians.
“We’re going to be really intentional about making sure that these donations reach needy families across the state,” Beshear said. “I’m really proud to work alongside so many incredible Team Kentucky members that care so much about our state and the families that make up our state — something Team Kentucky has always made a priority. I know every donation will make a difference, and I appreciate everyone who takes part in this or any other food drive.”
Democrats and Republicans have been going back and forth this week at the federal level as 42 million Americans are at risk of losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits starting Saturday. Yet, no agreement had been reached as of Thursday.
Beshear joined a lawsuit on Tuesday with more than two dozen Democratic state officials suing the Trump administration for halting SNAP assistance despite during the government shutdown. The governor said that a hearing was scheduled in the lawsuit Thursday.
On Thursday, Beshear renewed his criticism of the president for not finding a solution to the looming stoppage in food assistance. Beshear said that his “faith teaches me that food is life-giving and it is meant to be shared,” and noted that food assistance has continued during previous government shutdowns.
“Let me be clear. The Trump administration can fund SNAP. They can make that decision,” Beshear said. “It has been done in past shutdowns, and the money is there. Moreover, if this president thinks he can do a $40 billion bailout of Argentina during a government shutdown, certainly he can fund SNAP for a lot less.”
Trump has been seeking $40 million in financing to Argentina this month to bolster the nation’s collapsing currency.
A USDA memo published by NPR earlier this week said that “there is no provision or allowance under current law for states to cover the cost of benefits and be reimbursed” and that “SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits.”
The expected stoppage in federal food assistance leaves states to find solutions in the meantime. Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the state would contribute “up to $13 million” to two West Virginia food banks as it matches donations from residents there. Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency last week to allow using state funds to “provide food benefits.” Virginia has since rolled out a substitute state program, Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance, to send money to SNAP beneficiaries.
Beshear told reporters “a number of options are on the table” for Kentucky at the moment, but he was not sure a special session of the state legislature would be necessary to address food assistance. He also said that any state solution would not make up for the full loss of the federal funding.
The monthly cost of SNAP in Kentucky is about $100 million, Beshear said, providing assistance to almost 600,000 Kentuckians. Kentucky has $3.7 billion in its budget reserve trust fund, also known as the “rainy day fund.”
“All Donald Trump has to do is say, ‘I don’t want people to go hungry,’ authorize the SNAP payments to go out and our people will be OK,” Beshear said. “Either he will make the choice for folks to get full benefits, or it will be his decision that causes significant hunger.”
Later Thursday afternoon, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced a community food drive with Dare to Care. Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city and more than 84,000 people in the city count on SNAP benefits, a press release from the mayor’s office said.
The Kentucky Democratic Party will host its own statewide food drive on Saturday, Nov. 8, with county parties collecting donations for local food banks, according to an email sent to supporters.
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.