SNAP Benefit Freeze: Beverly Bootstraps To Host Election Day Food Drive

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Bootstraps will hold an Election Day food drive on Tuesday in anticipation of increased demand for services with the looming suspension of federal SNAP food-assistance benefits.

Beverly Bootstraps is looking to collect more than 2,025 pounds of food on Election Day.

• 'This Is A Moment For Coming Together': Gov. Maura Healey Makes SNAP Freeze Donation Plea
• Gov. Healey Blasts Looming SNAP Benefit Cutoff, Plans For Contingencies
• MA SNAP Benefits Won't Go Out In November, Officials Confirm
• SNAP Benefits In Jeopardy In MA Due To Government Shutdown, New Fed Rules
• MA Attorney General Campbell Sues Trump Administration For SNAP Funding Freeze

Collection bins will be set up at each of the city's voting precinct locations.

"The need for food assistance is growing as neighbors lose access to SNAP benefits," Beverly Bootstraps said. "This Election Day, show up for your community — bring a non-perishable food donation when you vote on November 4."

SNAP benefits are set to be frozen as of Saturday amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Gov. Maura Healey and other state and local leaders this week urged the Trump Administration to tap into $23 billion in reserves to keep benefits flowing amid the shutdown.

While Trump officials said Democrats had the ability to extend the benefits through voting to fund the government on a temporary basis.

All donations should be new, opened and not expired.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)