In response to the suspension of federal SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Rockland County Legislature will approve $2 million in emergency funding to help local food pantries meet the surge in demand for food assistance.

 

“Without this help now, Rockland County families, seniors, veterans and others will absolutely go without food,” Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “In the face of this emergency, we’re acting to keep food on the tables of our neighbors.”

 

The Rockland County Legislature will convene at 10 a.m. on Monday in the Legislative Chambers, 11 New Hempstead Road in New City, to vote on the resolution authorizing the funding.

 

The federal shutdown will halt SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, after the USDA confirmed it will not use contingency funds to continue regular payments. In Rockland, about 47,000 residents are expected to lose their benefits, compounding food insecurity that already affects 12% of county residents, according to Feeding America.

 

“At a time when food prices are soaring and federal workers are missing paychecks, thousands of Rocklanders will lose their SNAP benefits on Saturday,” County Legislator Beth Davidson said. “I’m proud to be part of a Legislature that’s stepping up to care for our neighbors, and I thank Chairman Hood and nonprofit leaders like Diane Serratore of People to People for their swift action.”

 

People to People, the county’s largest food pantry, serves more than 5,000 residents each month, with smaller pantries assisting thousands more. They do not have the resources needed to meet the expected surge in assistance requests due to the SNAP cuts.

 

“We can’t ignore the fact that so many are about to be left without enough food to feed themselves or their families,” County Legislator Jesse Malowitz said. “Our neighbors don’t have weeks or months to wait for Washington to act - they need food for their children right now.”

 

The current shutdown adds to a series of federal nutrition cuts, including the $1 billion reduction to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) earlier this year. As a result, People to People received less than 200,000 pounds of free USDA food as of August 2025 - less than half of its usual supply.

 

Apart from the current SNAP cuts, Legislators Davidson, Malowitz, Dana Stilley and Paul Cleary have been warning since early September about separate SNAP cuts to Rockland estimated at $20 million following passage of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill in July 2025.

 

“There should be no hesitation on supporting this whatsoever,” said Legislator Toney L. Earl. “We are talking about the most vulnerable in our communities - children, seniors, the disabled, and veterans. This $2 million will go a long way to feeding people to relieving the anguish of wondering where their next meal will come from.”