Mt. Pleasant braces for SNAP interruption

MT. PLEASANT - As the government shutdown grinds on, SNAP has lapsed. As of November 1st, previous recipients will not receive these much-needed benefits for the foreseeable future. In a bid to keep the needy fed, several organizations in Henry County have rendered assistance, offering free or reduced meals.

Hy-Vee is offering free meals for children aged 12 and below, from Nov. 3-7. One meal per child. The menu is varied, and available on the Hy-Vee corporate website. For those above the age of 12, the same meals are available for $3.

“It’s the right thing to do,” says Willy Amos, store director at Mt. Pleasant Hy-Vee. His store has planned to distribute 500-600 meals a day, though on Tuesday, only 200 meals were taken.

After this week, Hy-Vee corporate claims it will post recipes on social media, the ingredients of which total no more than $3.

Meanwhile, Fellowship Cup continues with its mission, described by director Ken Brown as such: “To feed, clothe, and house the under-served.” The nonprofit is popular by all accounts, serving an average of 130 to 140 households per week at their Thursday food banks. Last week, they surpassed their personal best- 176 households, provided with food- although, Mr. Brown states, this was probably due to October itself: The month saw five Thursdays before the first-of-the-month brought State benefits.

The community, according to Brown, has rallied to support the Fellowship Cup. Food drives, monetary donations, and patronage of the Cup’s “Quarter-maybe-more” Thrift store has offered the group robust support to continue their mission. It is these means that will continue to provide the Cup with the resources to help the needy.

“We’re here Monday to Friday. Just call ahead, and we’ll prepare a box (of food) for you.”

Call Marilyn Higgins at 319-368-8895 or email her at marilyn.higgins@southeastiowaunion.com