O’Connell Announces City’s Commitment to Support Residents Impacted by SNAP Benefit Pause

Taunton, MA - Today Mayor Shaunna O'Connell announced the City of Taunton is prepared to provide assistance to residents affected by the expected pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Mayor O'Connell emphasized the City's commitment to supporting residents through this challenging time, stating: "I know how important SNAP benefits are to families and individuals across our community. We stand ready to provide grocery store gift cards through our local partners, help fund food supplies for local food pantries, and assist with utility and tax bills. Having relied upon public assistance growing up in Taunton, I know the importance of a compassionate helping hand. We will work together as a community to ensure kids and families will not go hungry."

The Mayor's Office, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, is actively coordinating with state legislative delegates, service providers, and community organizations to ensure that assistance efforts are efficient, well-organized, and responsive to the needs of Taunton residents. Together, these partnerships aim to connect individuals and families with critical resources and ensure that no one in the Taunton community is left without support during this temporary disruption.

To help residents navigate this situation, the City has compiled a list of local support resources:

Local Food Pantries:

• St. Vincent DePaul: 508-823-6676 (currently seeking donations of gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce)

• North Taunton Baptist Church: 508-822-1941

• Taunton Housing Authority (Commodity Supplemental Food Program for Seniors): 508-823-6308

• Matthew Mission Food Pantry: 2nd Saturday, 8:30am-10:30am, 76 Church Green, Taunton

Local Food Resources:

• Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen: 508-824-1788 (currently seeking donations of lunch items including white sandwich bread, lunch meat such as bologna, turkey, ham, and sliced cheese preferably white/yellow American cheese)

  • Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm, 111 High Street, Taunton

• TacT Meal Center

  • Sit Down Meals: Monday-Thursday, 11:15am-12:30pm

  • To Go Meals: 12:15pm-12:30pm

  • Monthly Family Dinner: last Thursday of the Month, 5pm-6pm, 378 Bay Street, Taunton

  • Brown Bag Lunch Distribution: Sunday, November 2, 2025, 12pm-1pm

• Food Source Hotline, Project Bread: 1-800-654-8333

• WIC: 508-823-6346

• Meals on Wheels: 508-675-2101

For further assistance or questions, please call the Department of Human Services at 508-821-1420. Adults 60 years of age or older may contact the Council on Aging at 508-821-1425 for support.

The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is maintaining up-to-date resources and FAQs at mass.gov/SNAPupdates. This includes the recommendation for SNAP recipients to leave at least $0.01 on their SNAP EBT card in order to access continued State-funded HIP dollars.

Mayor O'Connell and the City of Taunton encourage residents to stay informed and reach out to the Department of Human Services or the Mayor's Office for assistance. ###