Easterseals New Jersey, a disability services nonprofit, and Cross River Bank, a tech infrastructure provider offering embedded financial solutions, have partners in order to assist people who may currently be experiencing either partial or delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due primarily to the current federal funding impasse.
With more than 827,000 New Jersey residents currently said to be relying on SNAP, including many with disabilities, “continuing federal funding shortfalls and processing delays are deepening food insecurity and placing strain on support networks.” This partnership aims to “bridge food access gaps while delays persist.”
Easterseals New Jersey’s staff mobilized quickly to assess the needs of over 4,000 program participants statewide and “identify partners and resources to close gaps.”
The team established a resource hub linking residents to food banks across all 21 counties and is directly coordinating “with vendors to distribute meals to those affected.”
This response is vital for individuals with disabilities, who face heightened obstacles “connected to employment, transportation, access to care.”
Through Cross River’s giving arm, Foundation, the Bank “donated $18,000 to Easterseals New Jersey to fund the purchase of ShopRite gift cards for their program participants who rely on SNAP benefits.”
The donation also includes the packing and distribution of food packages to additional residents affected by the “government shutdown, helping ensure individuals and families continue to access groceries while federal operations stabilize.”
Cross River has a track record of providing “aid in times of uncertainty.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank provided “funding to small businesses in need, providing 480,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling more than $13 billion, saving more than 1.4 million jobs across the country.”
Miriam L. Wallach, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Cross River said that when uncertainty affects their neighbors’ “ability to meet basic needs, they have a responsibility to step up.”
Via this collab with Easterseals, they’re “ensuring that families have access to nutritious food and the support they deserve.”
The collab brings together Cross River’s commitment and focus on community with Easterseals’ expertise in delivering human services, uniting organizations around a dedication to promote “stability, inclusion, and dignity for all New Jersey residents.”
As noted in the update, Easterseals New Jersey has enabled people with disabilities and special needs to live more independently and reach milestones with equality and dignity.
New Jersey residents access services designed with the aim to foster greater independence and community integration.
