SNAP benefits to end soon in MS. Here’s where families in need can get food in the state
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be suspended across the country beginning Nov. 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in an Oct. 24 statement.
The announcement comes as the government shutdown drags on, causing federal funding for the program to “run dry,” according to a banner announcement on the USDA’s website.
The pause in benefits will impact an estimated 41.7 million Americans, including more than 357,000 Mississippians, who rely on the program to put food on the table each month, according to USDA data.
Despite the lapse in SNAP benefits, there are other resources available. Here’s where to get food assistance in Mississippi.
Mississippi resources
The Mississippi Food Network
The Mississippi Food Network is a nonprofit organization that distributes more than 1.5 million food a month, feeding more than 1.8 million Mississippians a year, according to the organization. MFN has 430 member agencies across the state. Visit their website to search for food resources by zip code.
Local resources
Mid-South Food Bank
The Mid-South Food Bank is based in Memphis, Tennessee and serves 31 counties, including several in Mississippi, according to the food bank’s website.
Catholic Charities of South Mississippi
The Catholic Charities of South Mississippi has a food bank program that distributes food throughout eight counties in the state, according to the website.
Donating to your local food bank
If you’d like to donate to a food bank near you, here’s some inspiration for what you should and should not donate, according to Feeding America:
What to donate
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
- Canned beans
- Pasta (preferably whole grain)
- Rice (preferably brown rice)
What not to donate
- Refrigerated items
- Expired food
- Leftovers
- Food with packaging issues
- Baked goods
You can find a food bank near you using Feeding America’s food bank finder tool.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
