More than 3,100 Clarendon County households may not receive their November food assistance benefits if the federal government shutdown continues, according to the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Local leaders, food pantries, and state officials are scrambling to prepare as families brace for a possible lapse in critical aid.
In a press release issued Oct. 22, SCDSS announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture instructed states to hold November SNAP issuance files “until further notice,” citing the ongoing federal budget impasse in Washington. The agency warned that, unless Congress reaches a resolution soon, “there may be no SNAP benefits paid for November 2025.”
Across South Carolina, more than 260,000 households depend on SNAP to supplement their monthly grocery budgets – totaling over $100 million in assistance each month. In Clarendon County, 3,178 households could be affected.
STATE LEADERS RESPOND
Governor Henry McMaster announced Tuesday that he has activated the OneSC Fund, a statewide charitable effort administered by the Central Carolina Community Foundation, to support regional food banks and community feeding programs. He also directed the South Carolina State Guard to assist with logistics and safety at food distribution sites.
“While South Carolina cannot fully replace federal SNAP benefits, we can and we will step up to help our neighbors,” McMaster said in a statement. “I encourage those who are willing to donate to the One SC Fund or volunteer at your local food bank.”
Sen. Jeff Zell, whose district includes Clarendon County, said he has been in close contact with McMaster’s office, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, and nonprofit partners to coordinate potential relief.
“Many of the communities in the 36th Senate District are classified as ‘food deserts,’ where access to full-service grocery stores is severely limited or nonexistent,” Zell told The Manning Times. “Residents often rely on one or two small retailers for groceries, and the loss of SNAP funding will only worsen the struggles of families already facing limited food options and financial hardship.”
Zell said the state is exploring “substantial executive branch efforts” and even a possible special legislative session to authorize temporary aid if the shutdown continues. “We are actively working to identify suitable solutions,” he said. “You are not alone, and we will not stop until we have a plan that protects our most vulnerable citizens.”
LOCAL FAITH GROUPS SET UP
As uncertainty grows, local organizations are preparing for what could be an unprecedented demand for food assistance.
Well Watered Ministries, a Summerton-based nonprofit that primarily supports foster families and children, operates a weekly food pantry and provides food boxes and other essential items to families in need. Founder Eliana Jenkinson said her team has already met to plan for an expected influx.
“We were not alerted by any agency, however we do our best to stay informed of any news or economic developments that may affect our community,” Jenkinson said. “We have had a board meeting and have a plan in place to support the influx of visitors to make sure we’ll have enough food.”
The nonprofit is moving additional funds to keep the pantry stocked and is partnering with Pinewood Baptist Church, Manning Early Childhood Center, and Manning MomsCo for November food drives.
“The last thing we want to do is turn anyone away,” Jenkinson said. “Our volunteer team is fantastic, but we can always use more hands. Sometimes life can be hard, especially in unpredictable times – it’s okay to ask for help. We’re here to help, no judgment, just love and food.”
State Representative Fawn Pedalino echoed that message in a social media post encouraging residents to support Well Watered Ministries and other local programs.
“This shutdown has really reminded me that government was never meant to take the place of community,” Pedalino wrote. “While Washington is busy pointing fingers, let’s do what we’ve always done best—take care of our own. Clarendon County takes care of Clarendon County.”
FOOD BANKS WARN OF STRAIN
At the regional level, Harvest Hope Food Bank, which serves Clarendon and 19 other counties, is already seeing longer lines at its partner sites. CEO Erin Rowe said the situation is “deeply concerning.”
“We’re doing everything we can. This is already a typically, critically low point in the year for our donations. We are not set up to step in for a federal and state run program. It’s just not logistically, physically possible,” Rowe said. “We are trying to mitigate it as much as possible. But you know, the frenzy that’s out there right now is driving people already to our agencies and our food pantries, and so the lines are extremely long. We don’t have the resources to substitute the $100 million that it costs per month for SNAP.”
“We will be here. Harvest Hope has been here for 44 years. We do what we do during a time of disaster, but the sheer volume isn’t going to be able to be handled by the food bank system,” Rowe said.
Rowe said Harvest Hope was not contacted by SCDSS before the agency advised SNAP households to turn to local food banks. “A lot of there’s a perception that we are state funded, which we are not at all. We don’t get any money from the state at all,” she said.
Harvest Hope partners with major retailers and farms across the state, including Food Lion, Publix, and Titan Farms, to distribute donated food. But Rowe said the supply chain is tightening. “Grocery stores don’t have the excess they used to,” she said. “We’re especially low on proteins and shelf-stable items right now.”
Rowe urged the public to support their local food pantries through donations or food drives, emphasizing shelf-stable goods such as peanut butter, rice, pasta, canned vegetables, and boxed meals.
“It's time for our state and local leaders to start to work together,” Rowe said. “This crisis needs to be solved on the state and national level. It’s a time for everybody to care about each other. We’re here to feed people. We’re not here to vote, honestly. They’re using hunger as a pawn, and I fundamentally don’t think that’s a great idea.”
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Despite the looming uncertainty, Clarendon County’s response has been swift and unified. From churches and schools to small businesses and neighbors, the message is clear: when federal aid stalls, local compassion fills the gap.
“We’ve got plenty in need right here at home,” Pedalino wrote. “If each of us gives a little, together we can make a big difference.”
As the federal shutdown drags on, that difference may soon be the only safety net for thousands of South Carolina families.
