Food scarcity leads to hunger. Since the partial cut off of SNAP (food stamp) benefits during the current government shutdown, hunger is now a dominating concern.

West Virginia is in a precarious position in regard to hunger. We do have ways of dealing with it. The state has two food banks, Mountaineer Food Bank and Facing Hunger Food Bank, which supply numerous food pantries. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has certain impoverished areas designated for emergency food distributions and utility assistance. Utilities can also contribute to the Dollar Energy Program that provides utility assistance which directly relates to food preparation. The Southern Appalachian Labor School (SALS) is an example of a non-profit agency that assists people in benefiting from all three of the

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