Tim Garvin on SNAP Benefits and the United Way’s Emergency Response

By-Hank Stolz

Photo- submitted

WORCESTER, MA– Tim Garvin, President and CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts, joined Hank Stolz on Talk of the Commonwealth to discuss the potential suspension of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. Federal funding for SNAP is set to end on November 1, posing a critical threat to nearly one million Massachusetts residents—many of whom are children, seniors, and people with disabilities—who rely on these benefits to meet their basic nutritional needs.

Garvin described the magnitude of the issue: “It is a massive undertaking. We are worried and concerned, and yet I am filled with hope because all day yesterday, my computer kept on going off with donations being made.” He detailed how the United Way has mobilized in response through a statewide initiative called the United Response Fund, designed to provide immediate financial aid to food pantries and local organizations serving vulnerable populations.

The United Way of Central Massachusetts has already taken decisive action, with its board approving an immediate $250,000 disbursement from its own reserves to help stabilize the crisis locally. Garvin emphasized that this situation represents not only a humanitarian emergency but also an economic one, given that SNAP dollars are often spent directly in local grocery stores and businesses.

“Always in Worcester, in Central Massachusetts, in the Commonwealth, in our country, our greatest muscle is our compassion. It’s our heart,” Garvin said, urging collective action from individuals, organizations, and businesses alike. His message was clear: the community must unite to “buy time” until a political resolution restores federal support.