PHOENIX (AZFamily) — As Nov. 1 approaches and the government remains shut down, the Arizona Department of Economic Security says the United States Department of Agriculture has instructed states to pause issuing November SNAP benefits.
There are over 855,000 people in Arizona in September who were issued SNAP benefits, and thousands of retailers across the state where those benefits could be spent.
Fly low enough over Reggie’s BBQ in Phoenix, and you might just be able to smell all the meat that is smoking. “His whole family cooks, and they are into the barbecuing and all that thing,” said Kathy McKinley.
Kathy and her husband, Reggie, are the owners of Reggie’s BBQ on 15th Avenue. They started the restaurant in Phoenix a few years ago and have developed a loyal customer base.
“We’ve got four low-income housing projects in the area. We’ve got four shelters in the area. So it’s not too many restaurants. Mom and Pop stores in this area, they don’t want to set up here and I took the chance to set up here and I knew I needed EBT to survive,” said Reggie.
Reggie says being able to accept EBT, the card used to access and spend SNAP benefits, is a big reason he’s been able to stay in business at this location as long as he has.
“I would say at least 60% of our business is EBT,” said Reggie.
In September, more than $155 million in SNAP benefits were issued to people in Arizona, and much of the money goes right back into the community each month.
“So that means at our grocery stores, at our farmer’s market. So not only just a human problem and a humanitarian problem that we are going to have if we don’t see SNAP benefits restored, our retailers are also going to be suffering tremendously,” said Director of Policy and Community Innovation at Pinnacle Prevention Jessie Gruner.
Kathy and Reggie say they don’t plan to let any of their customers go hungry if they don’t have SNAP benefits to spend, but they know changes will have to be made somewhere to keep the business alive, however long the shutdown lasts.
“We’re going to probably see a decline in numbers because of that. So, it’s going to hurt. You know, it’s really going to hurt. So, we’re going to have to, like I say, make some adjustments for it, but we shall survive,” said Kathy.
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