Market Coordinator Sei Paulson (seated, right) helps to get FreshConnect checks and wooden SNAP tokens for the Jamestown Farmers Market. Submitted photo

The effects of the government shutdown are expected to be felt by residents in Chautauqua County soon.

With assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, not being funded as of Nov. 1, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is looking for ways to provide to those community members in need.

The Jamestown Farmers Market takes place each Saturday, and has already collaborated with St. Luke’s for events in the winter. The Rev. Luke Fodor, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and other Jamestown Farmers Market team members, felt current situations would present an opportunity to try to help individuals who are experiencing hardship through the resources from the farmer’s market. Those who receive SNAP benefits will be able to get a voucher that can be used at the farmer’s market, according to Fodor. Fodor also stated that this offer will be extended to any laid-off or furloughed government workers who can present federal identification.

Starting Saturday, those who present an EBT card can get $15 per person, and up to $60 per household, said Fodor. Those with more than one household member will need to bring a SNAP determination letter to prove household size, noted Fodor.

Fodor stated that the church has a budget in place at the moment to provide assistance, which will allow them to provide vouchers for 50 individuals each market day. St. Luke’s is accepting donations in hopes of being able to offer this service to more people as need will continue to grow with time, Fodor said.

“While the government shutdown creates a temporary ceasing of the vital safety net programs like SNAP, St Luke’s take seriously the gospel call given in Matthew 25 to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the sick and welcome strangers. Well, this is a small effort, we know it will help many,” Fodor said.

The church has also been working with EBT cardholders to get extra spending power into the hands of those that need it through the NYS FreshConnect Checks Program. According to Nick Weith, Jamestown Farmers Market food access manager/market director SNAP recipients can visit the Market Information Table and present their EBT card to receive a dollar-for-dollar match of the balance in FreshConnect checks or wooden SNAP tokens. Both the checks and tokens can be used to purchase eligible food items from the market.

Weith said any donation directly supports local families and ensures that residents have access to nutritious and fresh food. Each donation allows for a greater number of individuals to be fed, and creates a stronger and more interconnected community.

“Each week we work with families and individuals to process their SNAP benefits and double their spending power through the NYS FreshConnect Checks program. These community members, while providing for their family, also support our farmers and small businesses when they spend their benefits. When SNAP gets cut, it’s also our vendors that lose out,” Weith said. “This decision to offer $15 vouchers helps our community two fold by keeping food on the table for the most vulnerable and keeps the lights on for our businesses.”

The farmers market will begin operating in the undercroft at St. Luke’s on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market will continue operations each following Saturday with the same hours of operation. For more information contact 716-483-6405.

With nearly three million New Yorkers at risk of losing the food assistance they receive from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting Saturday, Nov. 1, due to the federal government shutdown, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is fast-tracking $30 million in state funds to support more than 16 million meals. The additional funding follows Governor Hochul’s announcement last week of more than $11 million to support local emergency food relief. New York residents who use SNAP will be notified by Saturday of any official updates regarding the status of November benefits.

Neither announcement replenishes SNAP benefits, but supports food assistance programs. Nearly three million New Yorkers receive SNAP benefits, including 23,653 in Chautauqua County as of January 2025, according to information from the state comptroller’s office. Chautauqua County SNAP recipients received $4,485,327 in SNAP assistance in January 2025.