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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota received a waiver from the federal government to temporarily provide extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits known as Emergency SNAP, or E-SNAP.
The temporary increase boosted households’ monthly benefit to the maximum allotment for their household size – or, if they were already getting the maximum amount, households received an additional $95 each month.
Federal officials declared that the extra COVID Emergency SNAP benefits would end after February. Because Emergency SNAP is issued the month after SNAP is approved, most households received their last Emergency SNAP payment in March and benefits will return to the standard amount in April. A household’s SNAP benefits will depend on standard factors, such as household size, income and shelter and utility expenses. If a household’s income, costs, or household membership has not changed, their SNAP benefits should be similar to the amount they get early each month before they receive the additional E-SNAP benefit. Households may also reference their notice of decision when their standard SNAP benefits were determined and approved.
Emergency SNAP was first approved in April 2020 and has been approved in Minnesota each month since. The end of E-SNAP benefit may create hardships for households that have come to rely on this temporary benefit to extend their monthly food bill, especially in a time with increasing food costs. The following resources are available in Cook County and may provide extra food help to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
AEOA Senior Dining and Meals on Wheels – located at The Hub (formerly Cook County Senior Center) in Grand Marais, call 218-387-2660.
Cook County Food Shelf – located at First Congregational Church in Grand Marais, call 218-387-2113.
Free and Reduced Meal Program – contact your child’s school for more information.
Grand Portage Elderly Nutrition Program – call 218-475-2655 or email enpdirector@grandportage.com.
Grand Portage Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) – call 218-475-2480 or emailtinad@grandportage.com.
Grand Portage Food Shelf – satellite distribution of Cook County Food shelf, call 218-475-2453.
Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS) – provides a monthly supplemental food package for income-eligible residents aged 60 or older. Call 218-727-5653.
Ruby’s Pantry – provides monthly (2nd Tuesday of every month) food deliveries to Grand Marais. Email rubys@boreal.org.
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry – provides monthly (4th Wednesday of the month) food deliveries in Grand Marais and Grand Portage, call 888-727-5653 or email info@northernlakesfoodbank.org
Snack and Packs Backpack Program – provides food to children at-risk of food insecurity in discreet backpack packages each Friday of the school year for the weekends and over the summer. Contact Cook County Extension at 218-387-3015.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – located at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, provides nutrition and breastfeeding support, call 218-387-2330.
For more information about SNAP, Emergency SNAP, or other nutrition resources in the area please call Cook County Public Health and Human Services at 218-387-3620 or email economic.assistance@co.cook.mn.us.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Please visit our website for more information on program access: co.cook.mn.us/government/departments/public_health_and_human_services/economic_assistance_and_health_care_programs/index.php#nutritionassistance.
Contact: Todd Ford, Public Communications Coordinator, 218-387-3508, or todd.ford@co.cook.mn.us
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