Local ministry offering vouchers for EBT recipients

Local officials and Samaritan's Closet and Pantry are teaming up to give 
residents on EBT programs some relief while they wait for the benefits 
to be restored.

With the federal government its sixth week of being shut down, many EBT 
and SNAP recipients saw their benefits not load on Saturday. It was 
announced during Monday's meeting of the Board of Supervisors that local 
agencies are trying to pick up some of the slack starting Tuesday.

Samaritan's Closet and Pantry will offer food vouchers to certified 
Wayne County residents. This who have not received benefits must first 
visit the Wayne County Department of Human Services (DHS) prior to 
coming to Samaritan's Closet and Pantry.

Vouchers will only be distributed based on the "re-load date" 
information provided on the individual issuance confirmation letter that 
is presented to recipient by DHS.

The DHS letter will be necessary to qualify individuals to receive the 
food vouchers on their EMBT Card's re-load date. If Samaritan's Closet 
and Pantry is closed on the individual's re-load date, the recipient can 
visit any day after that date to receive a food voucher.

Individuals seeking re-load assistance through Samaritan's Closet and 
Pantry will also need to bring a valid ID card with photo along with 
their DHS verification letter.

Samaritan's Closet and Pantry will only distribute food vouchers to EBT 
Card recipients who appear in person. There will be no exceptions to the 
requirement to appear in person.

Samaritan's Closet and Pantry will issue food vouchers throughout 
November or until the EBT program is federally funded again and is fully 
operational. If a recipient's re-load date falls after the EBT program 
is operating again, the recipient will not b eligible to receive a food 
voucher from Samaritan's Closet and Pantry for this situation.

EBT Card recipients are eligible to receive only one food voucher during 
November.

The food vouchers of $25 each will be valid at local grocery providers 
in Waynesboro. In addition, a list of essential items that can be 
purchased with the voucher will be made available.

Officials said the money is coming from the cash reserves of the local 
ministry and is meant to help those in need with this assistance. There 
are roughly 1,500 families — roughly 4,000 people — in the county 
who utilize EBT assistance.