(Photo by Jess Mancini) Seth Franklin, executive director of Old Man Rivers in Parkersburg, met with the Wood County Commission on Monday to talk about increased need caused by the uncertainty of S.N.A.P. benefits caused by the federal government shutdown.

PARKERSBURG — The largest food pantry in Wood County has seen a substantial increase in families seeking assistance because of the delay and uncertainty of federal S.N.A.P. benefits caused by the government shutdown.

The average was about 170 households a week helped by Old Man Rivers, but from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31 jumped to 471, not including Monday, Executive Director Seth Franklin said.

“We’ve seen more than a 200% increase,” he told the Wood County Commission on Monday.

The impact on families and eligible employees from the delay of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was discussed Monday by the commission.

The government shutdown is in its sixth week with no end in immediate sight. A prime issue is a reduction of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies to make health insurance affordable.

(Photo by Jess Mancini) From left, Wood County Commissioners Bob Tebay and Jimmy Colombo listen to a discussion about funding for an access road in North Hills.

Old Man Rivers, while the largest meals program in the county, is not the only food pantry affected by the greater need, Franklin said. Smaller pantries operated by other groups and churches have also seen an increase in families and therefore an increased need for more food, he said.

Even after the shutdown ends, there remains the uncertainty of what will happen to S.N.A.P. benefits, he said.

“Things are only going to get more tough,” Franklin said.

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo urged residents to help by donating food to a pantry. Each can of food helps, he said.

“If you’re going to help somebody, you have to have teamwork,” he said.

Donations have been received, Franklin said.

“I think the community has done an amazing job,” he said.

A funding request for $25,000 from Old Man Rivers will be discussed on Thursday with the commission, Franklin said. The amount would cover food purchases through the end of the year, he said.

Food drives are being organized with the Salvation Army at the new Resiliency Center, Commission President Blair Couch said. Old Man Rivers can also get involved there, he said.

Couch also asked the county clerk’s office to prepare a confidential list of county employees who are currently receiving S.N.A.P. benefits, referring to a program of the Camden-Clark Foundation that is offering limited financial assistance to employees of the hospital who receive S.N.A.P. benefits and “are experiencing hardship due to a loss or reduction of S.N.A.P. benefits.”

The foundation sent a form to employees asking for basic information including family size and their current weekly S.N.A.P. benefit amount. The information will be kept confidential.

Assistance to county employees will be paid from the county’s rainy day fund if necessary, Colombo said. He cautioned spending money from the fund.

“When that’s gone, we’re gone,” he said.

The Rainy Day fund has about $3.4 million.

The commission also postponed a decision on a request from North Hills to cover the amount needed for an access road to a sewage pump station. Union Williams Public Service District is liable for water, but sewage is the responsibility of the city, Couch said.

The city has raised about $25,000, but the cost of the 13 feet wide by 500 feet long access road is $48,500, according to documentation from North Hills Clerk Fred Newberry.

The project includes culverts, fill dirt and gravel and a 40-by-80 foot turnaround.

Colombo recommended the funding request, rather than be taken from the rainy day fund, be included in the budget discussions that start in January.

Sheriff Rick Woodyard told commissioners that all deputies have been trained in the new Tasers recently purchased by the county. The old Tasers will be given to court personnel, he said.

The new Tasers are safer for the officer and can fire from about 40 feet away from the target, he said. They are much more accurate and multiple shots can be fired, too, he said.

“It’s like a Gatling gun,” Woodyard said.