The pressing issue of food insecurity affects one in seven West Virginians, encompassing more than 256,000 individuals, spanning across both adults and children.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a crucial role as a federally-funded safety net that reaches out to our fellow community members in need. SNAP provides food benefits to individuals and families, helping them supplement their grocery budget until they can regain their financial stability.
Our commitment to ensuring that people have access to nourishing food remains steadfast. This is why Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa) administers our SNAP Outreach Program, helping people determine whether they are eligible for SNAP and helping them apply for benefits.
CCWVa is honored to receive grant funding from Catholic Charities USA and the Walmart Foundation, in addition to support from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR). This collective support is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at combating hunger.
Rebecca and her husband Todd are just one of the numerous families we have encountered and aided through this program.
In October, Rebecca’s husband experienced job loss from his position with a local painting contractor. In response, Rebecca took swift action to seek assistance. She independently completed a SNAP application, awaiting confirmation of benefits. Unfortunately, her application remained unprocessed due to a variety of factors. Undeterred, she persistently navigated the process on her own, but the outcome remained unchanged. This left her feeling disheartened, bewildered, and frustrated. During the waiting period and the exchange of documentation, Rebecca and Todd exhausted nearly all of their financial resources, resorting to selling one of their cars to make ends meet.
In January, Rebecca became aware of the SNAP Outreach Program offered by Catholic Charities and reached out to our office. The SNAP team, in collaboration with the regional Catholic Charities office, promptly intervened in their situation. They received immediate assistance in the form of food supplies to address their urgent needs, and WVDHHR stepped in to expedite their SNAP application. After close cooperation with their office and WVDHHR, Rebecca and her husband received the heartening news that they would be receiving retroactive benefits dating back to their original application in October. They began to see a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.
To learn more about Catholic Charities West Virginia, visit www.CatholicCharitiesWV.org.
The Mission of Catholic Charities West Virginia: Guided by God’s love, Catholic Charities collaborates with community partners, parishes and families to provide caring and compassionate services to people in need and work toward lasting and meaningful change.
