Cuts to SNAP could affect 13,000 area households

When the Safety Net Frays, the Community Must Weave It Back Together

Recent reporting from The Washington Daily News revealed a sobering truth: cuts to the federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) could affect more than 13,000 households right here in Eastern North Carolina. That’s not just a number—it’s thousands of families, children, and seniors who may suddenly find their grocery budgets coming up short.

Food insecurity doesn’t happen in isolation. When the cost of living rises and assistance drops, families begin making impossible choices—between food and medicine, between groceries and gas. It ripples through our schools, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods.

That’s where United Way Inner Banks steps in.

For years, United Way has worked quietly and persistently to fill the gaps left behind by larger systems. Through our partnerships with local food pantries, shelters, and community resource centers, we help ensure that a temporary crisis doesn’t become a long-term catastrophe. We don’t just hand out meals—we help families rebuild stability.

But the reality is: we can’t do it alone.

As federal programs face uncertainty, local giving becomes more essential than ever. When you give to United Way, you’re helping your neighbors weather these very storms. Your dollars stay here, helping families here. You’re not just feeding a household—you’re sustaining hope.

Now is the moment for our community to show what it’s made of. We’ve always been stronger when we pull together, when we look out for each other, when we say, “Not in our town.”

If you’d like to be part of the solution—through volunteering, advocacy, or a simple donation—you can visit United Way Inner Banks and take action today.

Because when one family’s safety net frays, the rest of us become the weave that holds them up.

Read the recent story in the WDN here:

https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/news/cuts-to-snap-could-affect-13000-area-households-abee4a69

If you or someone you know is looking for information on food banks, meal programs, or other local resources, please call 211 and speak with a trained Resource Navigator. Help is available 24/7.

To our partners in government, faith communities, and nonprofit networks: thank you for all you do. We look forward to working with you in the days ahead to meet this challenge head-on.

And to every resident of the Inner Banks: if you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference, now is the time.

Let’s show what it means to be a united community.

Make your donation at this link here or scan the QR CODE below for immediate access to help!