WORCESTER – The City of Worcester announced the United Response Fund at a press conference at City Hall on Thursday, Oct. 30. The fund seeks to supplement federal funding suspensions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and federal funding and cuts to home heating assistance passed by Congress this year.
City Manager Eric Batista announced that the United Way of Central Massachusetts will manage a food and nutrition program of $1 million, which includes contributions of $250,000 from the city, $250,000 from the United Way of Central Massachusetts, and contributions from private donors. The program will supplement the suspension of SNAP fund distribution by the federal government.
Batista also announced that the Worcester Community Action Council will manage a $1.1 million fund to supplement the loss of federal funds for home heating assistance.
Batista said 80,000 central Massachusetts residents receive SNAP benefits, including 55,000 in Worcester. Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Superintendent Brian Allen said that 73 percent of WPS families are low income.
Congressman Jim McGovern, Mayor Joe Petty, President and CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts Tim Garvin, and CEO of the Worcester County Food Bank Jean McMurray also spoke at City Hall on Thursday. See all remarks, below.
The Massachusetts Healthy Inventive Plan (HIP) will still go into effect in January, which provides funds for healthy food choices at certain vendors if a SNAP recipient has even one cent remaining on their EBT card. Learn more here.
Local food access resources are available at foodhelpworcester.org.
The United Way of Central Massachusetts accepts donations to the United Response Fund.
Updates on SNAP funding can be found at the state’s website.
