(WAND) — Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order Thursday directing money toward helping food banks as SNAP funding is set to be stopped on November 1.
The executive order gives $20 million in funding to support seven food banks that supply over 2,600 food pantries across Illinois. $10 million is coming from the Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursements and Governmental Emergencies (BRIDGE) Fund and the other $10 million is from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).
"The Trump Administration wants to let tens of millions of Americans go hungry, a failure in leadership and abdication of our responsibility as Americans to take care of each other," said Pritzker. "I am directing the state government to work together with food banks, local grocers, and other community organizations and help provide some relief to Illinoisans as the federal government tears apart decades-long food assistance support."
Almost two million Illinoisans benefit from SNAP. The program is set to be completely shut off for the first time in it's history due to the government shutdown.
SNAP is 100% federally funded, and the State of Illinois administers around $350 million in federal SNAP benefits per month.
"Food banks cannot replace SNAP, but this support will help ensure our Illinois families and individuals facing hunger have access to the healthy, nourishing food they need to carry them through these challenging times and beyond," said Executive Director of Feeding Illinois Steve Ericson.
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