In response to the suspension of federal SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Rockland County Legislature will vote Monday morning to approve $2 million in emergency funding to assist local food pantries struggling to meet surging demand.
“Without this help now, Rockland County families, seniors, veterans and others will absolutely go without food,” said Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. “In the face of this emergency, we’re acting to keep food on the tables of our neighbors.”
The Legislature will convene at 10:00 a.m. Monday—one hour earlier than originally scheduled—at the Legislative Chambers, 11 New Hempstead Road, New City, to vote on the funding resolution.
The USDA confirmed it will not use contingency funds to continue regular SNAP payments, halting benefits for more than 40 million Americans beginning Saturday, November 1. In Rockland County, approximately 47,000 residents are expected to lose access to benefits, compounding existing food insecurity that already affects 12% of local residents, according to Feeding America.
“At a time when food prices are soaring and federal workers are missing paychecks, thousands of Rocklanders will lose their SNAP benefits on Saturday,” said County Legislator Beth Davidson. “I’m proud to be part of a Legislature that’s stepping up to care for our neighbors, and I thank Chairman Hood and nonprofit leaders like Diane Serratore of People to People for their swift action.”
People to People, Rockland’s largest food pantry, serves more than 5,000 residents each month, while smaller pantries across the county assist thousands more. However, these pantries are already strained and lack the resources to handle the sudden spike in assistance requests.
“We can’t ignore the fact that so many are about to be left without enough food to feed themselves or their families,” said Legislator Jesse Malowitz. “Our neighbors don’t have weeks or months to wait for Washington to act – they need food for their children right now.”
The current shutdown follows a series of recent federal nutrition cuts, including a $1 billion reduction earlier this year to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). People to People has already received less than half its usual USDA food supply, dropping to under 200,000 pounds as of August 2025.
Legislators Davidson, Malowitz, Dana Stilley, and Paul Cleary have also been warning since September about separate $20 million in SNAP cuts to Rockland tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill, passed by Congress in July.
“There should be no hesitation on supporting this whatsoever,” said Legislator Toney L. Earl. “We are talking about the most vulnerable in our communities—children, seniors, the disabled, and veterans. This $2 million will go a long way toward feeding people and relieving the anguish of wondering where their next meal will come from.”