US EditionMcDowell County, West Virginia, Birthplace of Food Stamps, Faces a Disappearing Safety Net
MCDOWELL COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, JUL 21 – Federal funding cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill risk destabilizing McDowell County nonprofits that operate on a narrow 3% margin and serve a population with high poverty rates.
- Organizations supporting communities in McDowell County, West Virginia, are at risk of losing crucial federal funding due to the One Big Beautiful Bill, which enforces tighter SNAP eligibility requirements and implements budget reductions.
- These changes stem from President Trump's domestic policy bill signed on July 4, which restores work requirements and reduces support amid historically high poverty and reliance on federal aid in McDowell.
- Local nonprofits like SHED operate on slim margins with increasing demand as food banks report rising need and expect Oklahoma to pay $270 million in SNAP due to error rates.
- Chris Bernard explained that food bank and pantry partners will face increased challenges, while CEO Stacy Dykstra emphasized that the reduction in SNAP benefits amounts to approximately 140 million fewer meals, creating a deeply concerning situation for everyone involved.
- These cuts may deepen hardships in McDowell, risking nonprofit closures without additional funds and worsening struggles for families, schools, and food providers reliant on federal assistance.
76 Articles
76 Articles
West Virginia, the birthplace of food stamps, faces a disappearing safety net
For nonprofits in McDowell County, West Virginia, the federal cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act threaten a lifeline. Many of McDowell’s 17,000 residents rely on federal programs and the nonprofits they fund to get by. The county’s tax base and population have significantly declined since 1950, when McDowell was the top coal-producing county in the nation and had about 100,000 residents. Now, more than half the children in the county receive…
Associated Press News
McDowell County, West Virginia, birthplace of food stamps, faces a disappearing safety net
Nonprofits in McDowell County, West Virginia, face severe challenges due to federal funding cuts. Once a thriving coal hub, the county now struggles with poverty, with over one-third of residents living below the poverty line.
How SNAP benefits may be affected by President Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Millions of people each year rely on supplemental nutrition assistance, also known as SNAP benefits, to feed themselves and their families. Although many are raising the question of how these benefits will change with President Trump's new federal budget bill. Four-star general, former MDA official ‘unanimously confirmed’ to lead Golden Dome project "We hear that a lot of people are pretty panicked," said Carol Gu…
How many Missourians may be affected by SNAP cuts?
MISSOURI -- After the Trump administration passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" in early July, many Missourians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are bracing for the legislation's cuts to SNAP. The bill plans to slash over $186 billion over the next ten years while expanding work requirements for recipients to receive SNAP benefits. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around 10.5 percent of the Misso…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
