the covid pandemic made hunger and food insecurity a critical issue in New Jersey and in response Federal lawmakers scaled back some of the requirements for receiving food assistance known as SNAP benefits while the new debt ceiling deal is reinstating some of those requirements and as Melissa Rose Cooper examines as part of our ongoing series hunger in New Jersey some fear it could leave more people and families without food well you don't get a lot of help and you're a single parent you have no choice you know if you want to feed your kids sometimes I will go without you know so they can have Brenda Greene has lived in Trenton all her life she works part-time and is Raising her eight-year-old granddaughter but is finding it tough to make ends meet I receive help from the government you know that's not much and then you got to pay rent on it you have nothing left and they just took a big chop off the food stamps so you need the help you need all you can get a struggle tens of thousands of New Jersey families are facing after a temporary increase in federal SNAP benefits that went into effect at the start of the pandemic expired earlier this year in February Governor Murphy signed into law a measure raising the state's minimum SNAP benefit from 50 to 95 per household per month but for many it's still not enough that's why green says she's thankful for the Salvation Army's food pantry it helps a lot with what I get you know I mean they do a lot they do a lot for you you have to make it last you have to you know budget off of it you have to pinch off of it to make it last long as they get a meal three times a day in the snack you know I'm satisfied with the pantry I can do that the food pantry is one of the Salvation Army's long-time Key Programs and service to the community this location in Trenton serves over a thousand people each month we welcome everyone from Mercer County not just from Trenton to come and receive a monthly allocation of various food items that includes cereal milk juice greens like pasta canned items as well as frozen meats that includes chicken whole chicken fish amongst other types of meats Ling projecti is the core officer of the Trenton Citadel Corps she says since the federal government reduced SNAP benefits there has been about a 30 percent increase in residents seeking assistance from the pantry and now that hundreds of thousands of people across the country could lose their benefits due to the work requirement expansion included in the debt ceiling agreement she fears the need will soon be even more I'm estimating it can definitely go up to 50 percent increase because of these SNAP benefits the summer months people still looking for jobs and they've been having a hard time to find jobs especially during the summer months the kids are out of school and they're home they're eating at home and parents are seeking again to provide for their kids especially when they're home during these months so brachetti says the pantry is essential to the community this pantry is not just a plate of food this pantry is knowing that we're here to provide this help gives them security gives them comfort knowing that they have a place where they're going to be welcomed where they're not going to be judged and where they're going to have their next plate of food and for green it continues to make a huge impact more Health than anything you know you like you can't depend on your friends your family members Salvation Army is my friend and I thank them and the staff for all they have done for me and all they continue to do for me an act of kindness making sure no family goes hungry for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper funding for hunger in New Jersey has been provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working with others to build a national culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being [Music]