After weeks of uncertainty, South Dakota people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be getting a portion of November payments in their accounts.
The South Dakota Department of Social Services said partial SNAP benefits were loaded onto EBT cards to be available Wednesday. The remainder of November payments will go out at a later date.
Roughly 37,000 households in the state are eligible for the food assistance program. DSS officials said the amount beneficiaries receive are based on federal calculations so the amount will vary by household.
SNAP payments had been caught in a long-term political battle over the federal government shutdown. The fate of November payments swung back and forth as the Trump Administration challenged various court orders requiring payments to be made.
Additionally, many Siouxland organizations in recent weeks and days have been reminding people of opportunities to receive food if they need during challenging times. One out of five children in Siouxland are food insecure.
The Food Bank of Siouxland provides food to numerous food pantries, and also operates mobile pantries for a day at a time.
Such mobile pantries this week will be present at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Open Cupboard in downtown Mapleton, Iowa, plus at 10 a.m. Thursday in the community center in Kingsley, Iowa, and 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul Methodist Church in South Sioux City.
In related news, from Wednesday through November 26, the Regional Transit Authority in Spencer, Iowa, will provide free rides to area food pantries in nine counties.
People can call 1-800-358-5037 to set up a ride, which officials said they are providing to help people access essential food assistance.
