Gov. Ned Lamont announced Saturday that all Connecticut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients now have their full November benefits loaded onto their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

A Stratford business owner, however, said that's no reason for a food drive he's holding to stop.

"There's great need in this community with or without SNAP benefits, and we see that every year," said Howard Aspinwall, owner of Mellow Monkey on Sniffens Lane.

"It's great that SNAP recipients have their EBT card benefits tonight, but we encourage our customers to continue dropping off nonperishable items because folks are going to need them nonetheless," he said.

Aspinwall said donations can be dropped off at his store at 360 Sniffens Lane during regular business hours, seven days a week.