File photo A Mountaineer Food Bank Mobile Pantry visited 4-H Camp Pioneer in Beverly Thursday morning to distribute food. Above, volunteers lend a hand at a 2023 Mobile Pantry visit to Camp Pioneer.

ELKINS — Local officials said they will be doing their best to help area residents relying on food assistance, now that the West Virginia Department of Human Services has announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are being delayed.

The delay affected benefits that were slated to be issued on Oct. 16, and will likely affect those in the month of November, according to information from the WVDHS. Officials said the delays are being caused by the current federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass funding legislation for 2026.

More than 200,000 West Virginia residents rely on SNAP, and delaying benefits will undoubtedly have an impact locally.

Angela Jennings, Regional DHHR Manager for Randolph, Tucker, Barbour and Taylor counties, told The Inter-Mountain Thursday that the Elkins office remains open and that some of its services are not being affected by the shutdown.

“We are still open and we are still processing things,” Jennings said. “The SNAP benefits are being delayed, but we are still processing and taking applications for them. SNAP is currently the only program that currently uses federal money. Medicaid, West Virginia Works, and Emergency Assistance is state-funded. Basically we are still moving as was, just everything for SNAP is on hold right now.”

Jennings added that SNAP benefits are being affected because they are part of the Food and Nutrition Services that are run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Residents seeking help during the delay in SNAP benefits can look to various organizations in the area for help. One that has been providing food to those in need for many years is Catholic Charities of West Virginia.

Jeremy Wanless, Eastern Regional Director for Catholic Charities, told The Inter-Mountain Thursday that his organization will continue to help as best it can, but noted there will not be many changes in light of the issues with SNAP benefits.

“There isn’t really much we can change right at this moment, but we are always looking around for any other sources of funding or resources,” Wanless said. “We have to look at the long-term part of what we do too, so we are kind of finding that balance of what we can do in the short-term emergency, and also look to make sure we are prepared to be in a position to help those long-term as well.”

Wanless said he hasn’t yet seen much of an uptick of those in need of services from Catholic Charities, which is located in the Tygart Valley Mall in Elkins, next to Shop ‘n Save Express.

“I can’t tell yet whether or not the more people we have had is specifically related to that (SNAP),” Wanless said. “We’ve seen that our need is always present in this community, so I think it’s too early to tell at this moment that there is an uptick specifically related to that (SNAP) or not. Because it really hasn’t taken full effect yet, but I’m sure there will be folks who will be utilizing our pantry because of it.”

Wanless said Catholic Charities is always seeking donations or volunteer help.

“We can always use volunteer assistance if folks are looking for that sort of thing, or any donations of any food items are always welcome,” Wanless said. “Items can be dropped off at our location and people can reach out to us to talk about anything they are wanting to do to help us out.”

For more information about Catholic Charities, call 304-636-4875 or visit the organization online at www.ccwva.org.