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Major changes to the SNAP/Food Stamp Program are going into effect on January 1, 2016.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
SNAP recipients age 18-49 that are considered to be able-bodied adults without dependents – ABAWDs – are limited to 3 months of SNAP within a 36 month period unless they:
- Work at least 20 hours per week
- Participate in a job training program at least 20 hours per week
- Volunteer for 26 hours per month
- OR prove that they meet one of the work requirement exemptions
Exemptions include being in school or an educational program, applying for or receiving unemployment, caring for a disabled family member, or having a medical condition that prevents them from working.
WHY NOW?
Pennsylvania was allowed to waive the ABAWD rules due to high unemployment during the recession. Now, based on unemployment rates in Montgomery County, that waiver is expiring.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Learn more about ABAWDs. Tune into an ABAWD webinar on December 15 at 11am! Click here to view the flyer and registration information.
Spread the word. Encourage others to join the webinar and use these flyers to inform service providers and pantry clients about the changes. It is crucial that SNAP recipients know how prove they’re exempt or are connected with opportunities to meet the work requirement so that they don’t lose benefits.
Host volunteers. Volunteering is the only way for those that are not exempt and are unable to find work or training to continue receiving SNAP. If you may be able to host volunteers for any number of hours, please email Kara Beck at kbeck@cadcom.org.
If you would like in-person SNAP outreach at your pantry or know someone that has questions about their SNAP benefits, email or call Kara Beck at 610-277-6363 ext. 140.
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This holiday season, Manna on Main Street offers its Hope for the Holidays program to help bring a happy and memorable holiday for the families they serve. Instead of gifts, Manna will be distributing gift cards to families in the North Penn region, giving parents the dignity of providing their children with gifts and needs. Sponsors are asked to purchase gift cards in $25 denominations to stores like Target, Walmart, and Amazon that offer a variety of shopping options.
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Catholic Social Services has officially dedicated its full-choice pantry under the new name of Martha’s Choice Marketplace. The dedication comes after months of prep work to make the transition to a full-choice pantry, an effort funded by the North Penn Community Health Foundation. Catholic Social Services Executive Director Liz Peteraf gave a heartfelt thanks to all the pantry staff and volunteers who worked to make the transition a success, and more than 75 people attended the dedication ceremony. Check out 6ABC’s coverage of the event!
The Bucks-Mont Collaborative held its Trauma & Adversity Summit, giving more than 200 attendees an overview of how trauma affects its victims and how social service providers can be sensitive to their needs. Dr. Sandra L. Bloom, from the Drexel University School of Public Health, said creating trauma-aware communities can help build safe spaces for trauma victims to begin the recovery process.
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GRANTS: WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
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The North Penn Community Health Foundation invites nonprofits working in Bucks and Montgomery County to an information session to learn about the new Nonprofit Respositioning Fund and meet its director, Nadya Shmavonian.
The Fund is a regional initiative to encourage and support formal, long-term collaborations between and among health, human service, education and arts and culture nonprofits. Grants will be available for nonprofits from the 5-county region to identify and engage technical assistance providers to support the exploration or implementation of the collaborations (ex. back-office consolidations, programmatic joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions).
The meeting will on Tuesday, January 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and will be held in the Walton Room at the Community Partner Center for Health & Human Services, 2506 N. Broad Street in Colmar, PA.
Executive directors and board members are especially encouraged to attend. After a brief introduction, funders will depart so attendees may have a confidential space with Nadya. To ensure that as many organizations may attend as possible, nonprofits may send a maximum of two attendees.
Registration is required.
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COALITIONS: AROUND THE COUNTY!
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The InterCounty Food Network will meet again after the busy holiday season. For more information, contact Monica Oswald at foodcupboard@theopenlink.org.
The Nutrition Coalition will meet again in January 2016. Contact Julie McCabe for more information at Julie@mannaonmain.org.
Advocates Against Hunger will meet again in January. Contact Kary LaFors at AdvocatesAHLaFors@aol.com.
The Eastern MontCo Pantry Coalition will meet on Friday, December 11. The location has not yet been determined. Contact Pat Druhan at pdruhan@cadcom.org to get updates about upcoming meetings.
That’s all, thanks everyone!
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