Montgomery, AL – November 2025 – In response to the federal suspension of SNAP benefit distributions, Governor Kay Ivey has announced that the State of Alabama will release $2 million in emergency state funds to eight statewide food banks serving all 67 counties.
According to her office, this funding comes as many Alabama families face food-insecurity risks due to delays or interruptions in federally supported benefit programs. “There are real Alabama families who rely on SNAP to put food on their tables, and that includes more than 300,000 children, more than 102,000 seniors and those who are disabled,” the governor stated.
Why the move
The federal SNAP program is fully federally funded; when that funding or operations are disrupted, states can see large numbers of residents suddenly without access to food assistance.
“By directing state emergency funds to food banks, Alabama is stepping in to provide immediate relief to families in need.
What this means on the ground
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The eight food banks receiving support include: Community Food Bank of Central Alabama; Food Bank of East Alabama; Food Bank of North Alabama; Feeding the Gulf Coast; Heart of Alabama Food Bank; Selma Area Food Bank; West Alabama Food Bank; and Wiregrass Area Food Bank.
- In addition, the state’s Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) is redirecting an additional $3 million to the Feeding Alabama network to assist during this period, bringing the total state-level relief for food‐access operations to roughly $9 million for FY26.
CAAA’s role
As the state’s community action agency network, CAAA is working closely with local food banks, partner nonprofits, and county-level service agencies to:
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Identify areas of increased need due to SNAP benefit interruptions
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Support coordination of food distributions and emergency pantry operations
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Connect families with resources for other supports (housing, employment, child care) when food relief alone is not enough
A call to action
While the state-level infusion is a critical stop-gap, the long-term solution remains the restoration of federal food assistance programs and robust support for families. We encourage Alabama residents, community leaders and local businesses to stay engaged — volunteer, donate and partner with local food banks in your area to ensure no one in our state goes hungry.
Learn more about how CAAA can help: Visit our website or contact your local community action agency office to find food assistance resources, SNAP application support, or emergency relief services.