As the government shutdown continues, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November are being withheld.
One in eight Americans rely on SNAP for their food. Nationwide, 42 million people—including 16 million children, 8 million senior citizens, and 4 million people with disabilities—will face difficult decisions about how to feed themselves and their families when their benefits are no longer accessible. Refusing to fund SNAP will create a hunger crisis for our neighbors who are already doing their best to stretch their dollars as far as they can. Nonprofits such as food banks and pantries cannot even hope to offset a reduction in SNAP benefits, as SNAP provides nine meals for every one distributed by food banks.
The USDA has a contingency fund to ensure SNAP remains funded; however, these funds are not being released.
Will you contact your senators and representatives and urge them to work with the USDA to release the contingency funds and ensure millions of Americans will be able to continue feeding themselves and their families?
If you have any questions or would like more information about contacting your senators or representative, you can reach me at [email protected] or 402.687.2100.
