By Amelia Jewett ’27
Now more than ever is the time to give back to our community
The government shutdown and frozen funding of SNAP benefits have taken a drastic toll on countless families throughout the nation. Approximately 22 million households and 1 in 8 individuals rely on benefits to afford nutritious food essential for our well-being. Without the funding allocated for their food budgets, many families are struggling, especially with the winter months approaching.
SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which issues monthly funds on an Electronic Benefits Transfer card to provide support to low-income families and individuals for groceries. SNAP can be used at specific retailers all across the country and is often accepted at popular, large-scale locations. On Monday, November 3, President Trump stated they would restart food benefits but they will be delayed and only consist of half the normal payments. The decision came after federal judges ruled that freezing payments to the nation’s largest anti-hunger organization was unlawful. The administration stated the contingency fund they are using can only cover around half the previous costs, and the system changes could take weeks to months to yield these reduced benefits. The administration also denied tapping into additional funds to supply full payments in November.
What can you do to help? Without SNAP, families are turning to local food banks for assistance. Organizations such as Beverly Bootstraps have been working non-stop to ease the burden but the gap that the disappearance of the government funds has left is difficult to fill. Beverly Bootstraps has been arranging large-scale food drives such as the one held on election day, to collect non-perishable donations. Their website delivers information on ways to get involved, from hosting a drive to volunteering on site. They additionally provide a list of the top ten most needed items and locations of collection boxes for any donations. Individuals can also directly give money, which food banks can then use to buy the required products in bulk.
At this point in time, it’s important we bring awareness to the food crisis and aid in any way we can. Especially as the holidays approach, remember your neighbors and community members who may be less fortunate. Go online and research local drives, volunteer opportunities, and donation funds. Everything counts, and just a small action can make a large impact on someone else’s life.
