By Greg Jordan
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BECKLEY — Losing power during Winter Storm Fern cost many residents their food supplies, so a state agency is giving residents more time for reporting the loss of food bought with SNAP benefits.
The West Virginia Department of Human Services announced Monday that it had received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the 10-day reporting period for the loss of food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to the department’s announcement. This temporary policy applies in all 55 counties.
The extension applies to current SNAP recipients who lost food as a result of Winter Storm Fern, which began impacting West Virginia on Jan. 25. The storm caused widespread power outages, hazardous travel conditions, and communication disruptions across the state. Local Department of Human Services offices in all 55 counties were closed for at least two business days.
Executive Director Craig Hammond at the Bluefield Union Mission in Bluefield said that the mission distributed 369 food bags last January, but gave out 416 this same time last year. Most requests have been for heating assistance.
”We had 303 vouchers for kerosene and we also handed out 66 bags of coal and 10 bags of wood,” he said. “The big demand was heating assistance compared to last year.”
Hammond said that he noticed Monday that supplies of canned fruit and peanut butter had been depleted, but more was coming.
”Fortunately, two generous citizens came forward,” he said. “We did get wiped out there, but help is on the way.”
Personnel at the Salvation Army Beckley Corps said Monday that their location had not seen more requests than usual for food assistance. People in need were still coming through the doors and receiving food bags. One man was sorting through canned goods after being given a bag.
Quentin Keen of McDowell County, who said he was visiting Raleigh County, stated that without such help, he would have to find other ways to stay fed.
”Honestly, probably out begging or bumming and hopefully not stealing,” he said. “Because times in life have led people to hunger and starvation. No, I don’t agree with stealing, but if a person stole for food, that’s survival.”
Representatives of the Mercer County Salvation Army were unavailable Monday.
Winter Storm Fern disrupted food distributions when its snow and cold covered the region. In one instance, the Mountaineer Food Bank canceled a Mobile Food Pantry that was scheduled for Jan. 29 at The Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley. It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18.
For households receiving SNAP benefits in any county, the reporting deadline has been extended through Feb. 14, giving families additional time to request replacement benefits.
Households may qualify for replacement benefits if they:
– Are West Virginia residents.
– Currently receive SNAP benefits.
– Lost food due to a power outage lasting more than four hours.
– Submit a signed affidavit.
To request replacement benefits or obtain additional information, SNAP recipients should contact their local Department of Human Services county office or call the Office of Constituent Services’ Customer Service Hotline at 1-877-716-1212.
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