Dollar General Briefly Boarded Up store Amid SNAP Benefit Concerns
A Dollar General store in Columbus, Ohio, temporarily boarded up its windows in anticipation of potential issues related to the impending loss of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for approximately 180,000 Ohio residents. The boards were removed by 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday,according to FOX 8,and the store remains open.
The concern stems from the ongoing government shutdown, which threatens the timely distribution of SNAP benefits.while EBT cards will continue to function throughout November, with unused benefits rolling over, new funds are unlikely to be loaded onto cards as long as the shutdown continues. This leaves households reliant on SNAP, often including children and the elderly, vulnerable to food insecurity.
“It’s difficult to pass judgment on this particular store, as we don’t no the history of looting this store may or may not have experienced,” said Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, in a statement to newsweek. “However, there are fears from an array of retailers that SNAP not being funded in November could present problems with theft, especially in areas where participation in the SNAP program is high.”
SNAP recipients facing benefit gaps in November are encouraged to utilize local food pantries. Though,a prolonged shutdown could overwhelm these resources. ”The longer the shutdown persists, though, even their resources could be strained, and it’s likely you could see other retailers try to use other security features out of concern over theft,” Beene added.
Efforts are underway to address the issue through legislation.Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) have introduced the Keep SNAP Funded 5 Act of 2025. If passed, the act would secure full funding for the SNAP program during the shutdown, ensuring uninterrupted benefits retroactive to the start of the shutdown.
“Needy families in Missouri should not be going hungry because a bunch of politicians in D.C.can’t figure out how to open the government,” Senator Hawley stated. “650,000 people in Missouri depend on help when it comes to the price of food and groceries. I don’t want to see these folks go without food. I hope everybody will support this legislation.”
Newsweek has reached out to Dollar General for comment.
