DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) – Governor Kay Ivey has announced $2 million in state emergency funds to support eight food banks across Alabama, including the Wiregrass Area Food Bank in Dothan, as the ongoing federal government shutdown threatens to disrupt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The funding, released Tuesday, is meant to help feed families affected by missed SNAP disbursements beginning this week. In Alabama, benefits are issued to recipients’ EBT cards between the 4th and 23rd of each month — meaning delays could immediately impact low-income families, seniors, and children.
“There are real Alabama families who rely on SNAP to put food on their tables, and that includes more than 300,000 children, more than 102,000 seniors, and those who are disabled,” said Governor Ivey. “That is why I am directing $2 million in emergency funding to go towards food banks serving the people of our state.”
Ivey also criticized federal lawmakers for failing to reach an agreement to reopen the government.
“We are now in the longest federal government shutdown in history, and it is absolutely ridiculous that families all across our country are suffering,” she said. “Hear me loud and clear when I say Alabama cannot be both the state and federal government. U.S. Senate Democrats must vote to reopen the federal government now.”
In addition to the $2 million in immediate funding, the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) is redirecting an additional $3 million to the Feeding Alabama food bank network — totaling $9 million for FY26. DHR will also send $300 in assistance to each of the 11,434 children in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to help offset the loss of SNAP benefits.
The Wiregrass Area Food Bank is one of eight regional food banks receiving funding, alongside Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Food Bank of East Alabama, Food Bank of North Alabama, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Heart of Alabama Food Bank, Selma Area Food Bank, and West Alabama Food Bank.
Governor Ivey said the state will continue to explore ways to help those in need but emphasized that Alabama cannot sustain these efforts indefinitely.
“There is only one true solution, and that is for Congress to do their one job and reopen the federal government now.”
For Wiregrass residents needing assistance, the Wiregrass Area Food Bank continues to distribute food to local partner agencies throughout Houston, Henry, Dale, Geneva, Coffee, and Barbour counties.
