Plymouth Nonprofits Face ‘Perfect Storm’ To Help Those in Need
Amid a federal government shutdown — which reached its 35th day Tuesday, tied for the longest in U.S. history — local nonprofits are mobilizing to meet the needs of their community.
One of the impacts of the shutdown is related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the national food aid program. Without congressional funding, SNAP benefits for November will be paid out through U.S. Department of Agriculture contingency funds.
However, payments will only be half of what recipients usually receive. It’s also unclear when families would begin receiving the partial payments.
Plymouth Nonprofits Face ‘Perfect Storm’
The cuts to SNAP in the Big Beautiful Bill combined with payment delays and the government shutdown have two Plymouth nonprofits teaming up to fill the gap.
Shawn Morrison, founder of the Plymouth nonprofit Good in the ‘Hood, works with those in need every day.
“Maybe the simplest way of saying it — we bring help, and then we inspire hope,” Morrison said.
The nonprofit has a number of initiatives, including its Shoe Away Hunger campaign, which uses a bus to distribute low-cost footwear for those in need.
One of Morrison’s most recent projects was focused on meeting people where they’re at. His book “Will You See Me?” compiled photos and stories of people living on the streets, raising awareness of those in need.
“We decided to go to the street corners, and actually interview them right where they were,” Morrison said. “A thing that almost everybody said to me when we were interviewing them, was that they just want to be seen.”
The book is available for sale now. But as it came together and the year went on, Morrison watched the material need in the community grow immensely.
Morrison said the combination of inflation, a government shutdown and cuts to aid programming are straining both food shelves and the people they serve.
“That’s kind of the perfect storm,” Morrison said. “We have more people to serve and less resources to do so. Everybody’s struggling.”
He knew as the months got colder, his nonprofit couldn’t do it alone.
“We needed to be innovative, and we need to work together with other businesses, and particularly nonprofits, to do the most good with the least amount of waste,” Morrison said.
A line out the door at the Shoe Away Hunger bus in late August. The bus, powered by Good in the ‘Hood, is one way the nonprofit works in the community.
A Powerful Partnership
That’s where another Plymouth nonprofit, Coated in Love, comes in. It holds a 3,000 Acts of Kindness event in Minneapolis every year for those experiencing homelessness.
“We offer coats, hats, mittens, sleeping bags, shoes, boots, complimentary haircuts, lunch, access to over 80 social service agencies,” said Danielle Igbanugo, founder of Coated in Love.
In its first year, Coated in Love had 900 guests at the 3,000 Acts of Kindness event. This year, it plans to serve 4,000.
“I’m happy to be able to help … that we’re all able to help that many people. But then it’s sad that we have to help that may people,” Igbanugo said.
Good in the ‘Hood and Coated in Love have now partnered to provide services at the 3,000 Acts of Kindness resource fair.
Sales of “Will You See Me?” will also benefit 3,000 Acts of Kindness.
The nonprofits hope to grow their partnership.
“You can do more together. You’re better together. Because we can reach more people when we pool our resources and we come together,” Igbanugo said.
Volunteers help people pick out winter gear during the 3,000 Acts of Kindness event in 2022.
How You Can Help
Coated in Love’s 3,000 Acts of Kindness event is coming up on Monday, Dec. 8. Before that event, the organization needs to collect items to give away to the needy.
That could include winter coats, personal care items or meals.
Help could also come in the form of volunteer work. More details on how you can assist Coated in Love are on its website.
The group is also hosting a new coat drive at The Fox and Pantry in Plymouth on Give to the Max Day. That’s Thursday, Nov. 20, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Good in the ‘Hood also has a variety of ways you can volunteer or donate to its organization. Those details are on its website.
