BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- The Berrien Community Foundation announced due to the impending pause of SNAP benefits beginning on Nov. 1, they’re asking the community to come together to donate food items to any one of the eight donation sites in the county, to help the over 23,000 Berrien County residents who rely on said benefits.

Foundation officials say they're working with community partners to fill up the food pantries that are bracing for the increase in need.

BCF says thanks to donors, it's able to purchase $20,000 of protein for the pantries using the Terry N. and Maryfran Tieman Endowment Fund. The foundation says It will help, but it isn’t enough and they're challenging the community to tap in.

The SWMI Food Is Health Collaborative and SWMI Nutrition Exchange are also working with food pantries and other hunger relief agencies in coordinating efforts to meet upcoming needs.

Donation bins are available at:

• Berrien Community Foundation
• Chikaming Township Hall
• Coloma Public Library
• Corewell Health Center for Wellness, Benton Harbor
• Hardings Market, Berrien Springs
• Watervliet District Library
• YMCA – Niles/Buchanan
• YMCA - St. Joseph/Benton Harbor

Donated items will be picked up by Meals on Wheels for distribution to the pantries.

Foundation officials say the priority items requested by the pantries are unexpired food including:

• Canned meat (chicken, tuna, salmon) in water
• Canned stews, soup or chili (low-sodium preferred)
• Canned vegetables (low-sodium preferred)
• Pasta and pasta sauce

You can find a full list of requested items on the BCF website.

In St. Joseph County, Ind., Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow announced, in anticipation of SNAP's disruption, the St. Joseph County Emergency Food Initiative has been reactivated to ensure families across the county do not go hungry.

Officials say the EFI will mobilize food banks, community organizations, and local governments to fill the gap left by federal inaction.

The EFI's actions include:

• Weekly coordination meetings among participating organizations to strategize and respond to evolving needs.
• Distribution of unified evolving resource guides (attached) listing food pantries, meal sites, and other support services.
• Expanded hours and access at local food pantries, with additional meal opportunities as resources allow.
• Deployment of additional mobile food pantries and meal sites throughout the county.

Organizers are also calling on the community to chip in through donations of food or funds.

Contributions can be made to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana or Cultivate, both of which will bolster food pantry resources across the county.

Portage Township’s food pantry, the Portage Pantry, will also temporarily waive its frequency-of-use policy and allow weekly distributions to families until SNAP benefits resume.

Through a partnership with Portage Pantry, East Bank Grocery will offer free fresh produce every Tuesday afternoon.

Organizers say no registration or documentation is required. Residents may show up and select what they need. Officials say the EFI will remain active until SNAP benefits resume.

For updates and assistance, residents can follow Portage Township social media or visit the Food Bank of Northern Indiana website.

EFI participants include, but are not limited to:

• Portage Township
• Food Bank of Northern Indiana
• REAL Services
• Cultivate
• United Way
• Salvation Army
• University of Notre Dame
• Penn Township
• Mishawaka Food Pantry
• St Joseph County
• East Race Grocery
• Homeless Center of South Bend
• Hope Rescue Mission
• South Bend Community School Corporation
• Family and Children's Justice Center
• United Religious Community
• The Beacon
• St. Vincent de Paul