Hundreds flock to food giveaway in Roanoke

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Reinstatement of SNAP benefits also provides relief

The Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation sponsored a food giveaway last Wednesday as a way to help those in need in the Roanoke community. The effort saw volunteers give out over 500 boxes of food staples to local residents who lined up over an hour ahead of time to make sure they could receive the food.

The line of cars backed up all the way down South Street, nearly to LaFayette Highway, went up West Point Street and back around the entryway to Wright Field before coming down the hill to the back of the recreation center.

Volunteers from the Handley High School marching band as well as members of the community and the Roanoke Police Department helped keep things orderly and moving at a good pace. It took over an hour to clear the entire line of waiting cars, and volunteers remained on site for another hour until all of the food had been given out.

The effort was a way to help alleviate the need for food left in the absence of November SNAP benefits that were not disbursed because the shutdown of the federal government. Judging by the turnout, the need was significant.

Bradley Bozeman is a graduate of Handley High School who played football at Alabama and is currently in his eighth season in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers. He and his wife Nikki started their foundation as a way use their success in a charitable way.

One day after the food giveaway in Roanoke the Alabama Department of Human Resources received notification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service that the federal government had reopened and that, “State agencies must take immediate steps to ensure households receive their full November allotments promptly.”

“It is about time Congress did their job to reopen the federal government. In Alabama, SNAP recipients were some of the most impacted during the shutdown period, and I am pleased that DHR will work to quickly provide normal, full benefits,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “Our state government in Alabama, as well as our local governments, do not operate in such a reckless way, and I hope Congress has learned from their failure to meet their responsibility to the people across the country.”

Delayed benefits were expected to be released by the end of the day Thursday, and those who are scheduled receive their benefits after November 14 should get them without any delay.

“DHR is thrilled to be able to provide full benefits to SNAP recipients and help get food on the table for these Alabama families, especially in time to prepare for the upcoming holidays,” Commissioner Nancy Buckner said. “I am especially thankful to all the persons and entities that donated food and money to the many organizations across our state that stepped up to distribute food during this difficult time.”

DHR encourages those who are wanting to apply for SNAP to continue doing so and reach out to their local county DHR office with questions. The phone number for Randolph County DHR office is 256-357-3000.