MORNING HEADLINES | The ongoing government shutdown will lead to the cessation in federal food assistance benefits starting tomorrow, leaving 560,000 South Carolinians without vital help. About half of those also have children.
Even without the shutdown, the Lowcountry was already seeing increasing food insecurity, as mentioned in an Oct. 31 report in the Charleston City Paper. The Lowcountry Food Bank (LFB), which distributed 46 million pounds of food for 33 million meals last year in the state’s 10 coastal counties. In the last year, that has gone up about 10%, according to the food bank’s CEO, Nick Osborne.
Beyond South Carolina, 42 million people — roughly 1 in 8 Americans — could see cuts or delays to food assistance as soon as Saturday if the government shutdown continues.
The impact won’t be felt all at once. Funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are distributed throughout the month, each state using their own method to determine who receives benefits on which day. The longer the shutdown goes on, the more people will see their benefits reduced, delayed or canceled.
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts, however, offered a glimmer of hope. She said she saw no reason the government could not tap its own emergency reserves to pay for food assistance, and hinted at a ruling that could force the Trump administration to send SNAP benefits to states.
If you want to help now
Perhaps the best assistance to give is money — either directly to the food bank or to the state’s One SC Fund, which was activated Tuesday in anticipation of growing food needs.
Osborne said monetary donations give assistance agencies the flexibility they need to buy what they’re not getting from donations.
In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper
CP OPINION: Destruction of East Wing at White House is Trump’s latest act of civic vandalism. “Unsurprisingly, President Donald Trump’s faintly comic praetorian guard of toadies, mountebanks and half-wits has rushed to the microphones to defend this latest act of civic vandalism, each pledging fealty with an argument more preposterous than the last.”
CP FEATURE: What your favorite Halloween movie says about YOU. Everyone has their go-to favorites for the spooky season. The Charleston City Paper chatted with some of our favorite movie buffs in the Lowcountry and asked them a single question: What does someone’s favorite Halloween movie say about them?
CP NEWS: Charleston leaders to head to Europe for ideas for Union Pier development. This updated story highlights an eight-day November trip to three cosmopolitan European cities that will help Charleston leaders better understand how to develop Union Pier so it fits in and deals with rising waters, according to those who are going.
CP NEWS: Human remains from Charleston’s Courier Square to be reinterred. A total of 74 gravesites with no known grave markers that were discovered at a King Street construction site earlier this summer will soon be relocated to the historic Bethany Cemetery, officials said.
CP FOOD: Charleston’s The Pass to open Mount Pleasant location. Chef Anthony Marini of The Pass said legions have flocked to his downtown Charleston location since its 2021 opening. Now, he’s giving even more the opportunity to chow down on the best sandwiches in the Lowcountry.
CP MUSIC: The Revivalists celebrate biggest album at Refinery. The New Orleans band The Revivalists is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its breakthrough release, Men Amongst Mountains, at a Nov. 4 show at the Refinery.
CP ARTS: Ukraine trip yields arts-infused fundraiser in Charleston. Two Charleston friends went to Ukraine. They brought home the seeds of a plan for an art-powered fundraiser.
In other recent headlines
Lowcountry nonprofit helps Jamaica’s hurricane survivors get clean water. Water Mission of North Charleston is sending more people and supplies to Jamaica as those left homeless by Hurricane Melissa try to pick up their lives.
Isle of Palms to hold Halloween golf cart parade, carnival. The Isle of Palms will hold its annual Halloween golf cart parade and carnival on Friday afternoon.
Charleston’s romance book boom continues with third love-themed bookstore. Independent bookstores are having a moment in Charleston, with newer stores having niche focuses, whether it’s on “dark academia,” memoirs from Lowcountry authors or a beer/bar model, where customers can sip an alcoholic beverage while browsing.
Dorchester County residents encouraged to take ‘Hazard Mitigation Plan’ survey. Dorchester County residents are encouraged to share input on the county’s hazard mitigation plan.
Lowcountry flood prevention task force to meet today. Charleston County’s Intergovernmental Flood Prevention Task Force is set to meet Friday for the first time since relaunching earlier this year.
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