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Tyler Perry has donated nearly $1.4 million to organizations supporting victims of the government shutdown affecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The funds will go to organizations that assist vulnerable populations and low-income working households, which are disproportionately affected by the loss of SNAP benefits.
Tyler Perry’s Life-changing Donation
Black billionaire Perry, distributed the donation across multiple organizations. Some of them include Atlanta Community Food Bank, Baby2Baby, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Caring for Others, All for Lunch, Ron Clark Academy, and Goodr.
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In a press release shared with People, Perry spoke about the impact of reduced food assistance on families.
“If you’ve never been poor, then you may not fully understand the life-changing impact SNAP benefits mean to hard-working people, to our older citizens, and to our children,” he said. “For millions of people, it could mean extreme hunger. For newborns, it could mean a lack of access to formula.”
Perry, who has spoken publicly about his childhood trauma and homelessness, calls the loss of vital food assistance programs such as SNAP “heartbreaking” in his statement. “Compassion is not political, it’s humanity and we seem to be missing both right now.”
Why The US Government is Shutting Down SNAP Benefits
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that about 42 million Americans could see their SNAP benefits interrupted due to insufficient federal funding in November.
The shortfall stems from the federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, 2025, now the longest in U.S. history. Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island went on to order the Trump administration to use a contingency fund to cover November’s SNAP benefits.
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After Judge McConnell issued a new order on Thursday, Nov. 6, for the administration to cover the full amount, it is currently pushing back through an emergency appeal stating it can only cover 65% of benefits, according to CNBC. SNAP provides nutrition assistance to low-income families to help them afford healthy food.
According to People, funding delays and reductions have led to concerns about rising demand at food banks and community organizations across the country. These organizations are worried about the risk of increased hunger, particularly among vulnerable groups like children and older adults. The situation is dire, with many families struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table.
Perry has previously spoken about his experiences with homelessness and hunger early in his life. A source close to the filmmaker told People, “Tyler knows firsthand what it feels like to be hungry and homeless.
Though he has achieved so much, those feelings never leave you. And when he sees injustices like this he always feels compelled to help. He is absolutely devastated by what is happening to so many people.”
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The impact of the SNAP benefit cuts is far-reaching, affecting not only individuals but also communities and the economy as a whole. As the situation continues to unfold, many are calling for a swift resolution to ensure that those in need receive the support they require.
Image Credit: UrbanGeekz
