Food Resources and Ways to Help SNAP Cuts Are Coming: Here’s What It Means for Edgecombe & Nash Counties

Starting in 2026, federal changes to SNAP will roll out stricter work requirements and reduce benefits, affecting over 1.4 million North Carolinians, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

A lot of SNAP recipients are unable to work or work but still can’t make ends meet due to the rising cost of food, housing, healthcare, and transportation. Cuts will make it harder to cover these essentials without supplemental support.

Who’s Affected:

• Children: 600K+ in NC rely on SNAP
• Seniors 65+: 159K+ in NC
• People with disabilities: Many depend on SNAP as their main food source
• Working families: Rising living costs mean wages don’t stretch as far

Local Food Resources:

• Just Foods – Community food policy & advocacy group
• Ripe for Revival (@ripeforrevival) – Pay-what-you-can mobile market servicing 20+ locations weekly
• Kelly’s Community Pantry – Local pantry providing food and clothing, located in Tarboro, NC
• Tarboro Community Outreach Center – Pantry + hot meals
• Food Finder (@foodbankcenc) : Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
• Emergency Food Map: Healthy Food Access Mapping (HFAM)

How to Help

Advocate:

• Join Just Foods efforts
• Connect with Bread for the World (@bread4theworld)
• Get involved with NCFSAC (NC Food System Advocacy Coalition @ncfoodadvocacy)
• Connect with @communityfoodstrategies 

Donate:

Local food pantries, school backpack programs, and orgs like Ripe for Revival

Volunteer:

Help with food distributions, community gardens, or school food programs

Action Step: Contact your reps to defend SNAP. Cuts could mean losing $186/month for many families, money that puts food on the table.