As millions of Americans face food insecurity, Tyler Perry is stepping up to help.
According to People, the filmmaker donated nearly $1.4 million to organizations aiding families who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which has been jeopardized by the ongoing government shutdown.
Perry’s $1.4 million donation is being distributed among several community organizations, including the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Baby2Baby, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Caring for Others, All for Lunch, Ron Clark Academy, and Goodr — all of which serve families dependent on SNAP for food and baby essentials.
“If you’ve never been poor, then you may not fully understand the life-changing impact SNAP benefits have on hard-working people,” Perry told People. “For millions, it could mean extreme hunger. For newborns, it could mean a lack of access to formula.”
Roughly 42 million Americans depend on SNAP, according to recent estimates. The U.S. Department of Agriculture previously warned that current federal funds might not cover the entire month of November, leaving many families at risk of losing access to food assistance.
Perry’s compassion comes from personal experience — he has spoken about times in his life when he was homeless and hungry. “Tyler knows firsthand what it feels like to be hungry and homeless,” a source close to him shared. “Even with all his success, those memories stay with him, and when he sees people suffering, he feels called to help.”
The ongoing government shutdown, which began October 1, officially became the longest in modern U.S. history on November 5.
Other celebrities are joining the effort as well — Jimmy Kimmel announced a temporary food donation center in Los Angeles, while Wanda Sykes recently spoke out in support of single mothers affected by the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that a federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find funding to fully cover November’s SNAP benefits. The ruling demands immediate action, though the administration has already appealed, leaving the timeline for relief uncertain.
