A Call to Action
This week we have a unique opportunity to ensure millions of kids don’t go hungry. We need to call on our Representatives to demand they put kids first by restoring SNAP in the Farm Bill.
Last year, Congress cut SNAP funding by nearly 200 million dollars. While proponents say that the cuts would make the program more efficient, incentivize people to work and help balance our nation’s budget, the reality on the ground is completely different. Families are already working hard to put food on the table, but the rising cost of groceries is making it difficult for parents to stretch their budget until the end of the month. Parents are skipping meals so their kids can eat, buying less nutritious but more affordable food, and many kids are not getting enough nutrition to thrive in sports and school.
We cannot be a nation that turns its back on children. Hunger isn’t inevitable. It’s the result of the choices we make. The cuts are likely to have lasting consequences on kids’ lives and cost us as taxpayers in both the short and long term.
This week, the House is voting on the Farm Bill, legislation that regulates programs like SNAP. The bill is a unique opportunity to reverse the cuts from last year, but if passed without these reversals, it could set the cuts in stone for the next five years. We have the power to stop this.
Stories from Nebraska
We recently visited Nebraska where families are feeling the impact of the new requirements for SNAP. We spoke to families who have used the program as a stepping stone to build a better life, others who relied on it during very difficult moments, and rural communities where people are struggling to put food on the table.
Alicia and Nathan, two hardworking young parents near Omaha, spoke about how challenging it is to cover their basic needs. Recently, one of their boys had a basketball accident, which required surgery on his arm and leg. Alicia had to cut her hours to help with his recovery, and Nathan has had to start working over 60 hours a week to supplement their lost income. They’re lucky he was able to increase his hours, but it doesn’t go far enough. Alicia and Nathan take turns skipping meals to ensure their kids don’t go without. Their boys are growing athletes with big appetites.
“I won’t let the kids know that,” shared Nathan. “I’ll make it work by any means possible. There are some times when we have to make sacrifices. Our money is for the kids.”
Sierra, a single mom in Hastings, Nebraska, has a go-getter attitude for creating lasting change in her community. Her priority is her four kids, some of whom have special needs. She is also a strong advocate for SNAP and support for working families. Improving her community and helping others is her passion. In the little free time she has, she does carpentry, building furniture for her kids.
Sierra relied on SNAP earlier in her life. During a difficult pregnancy, the program helped ensure she could put food on the table while taking care of her health. Before receiving benefits, she remembers skipping meals and putting her pregnancy at higher risk. For her, SNAP was a bridge during a moment of crisis.
“For the elected officials wanting to cut SNAP, I would say go and speak to the community, to the kids,” Sierra shared. “This is something that people need. Our country is only as great as how we care for our most vulnerable.”
What You Can Do
These stories reflect the realities of millions of people across the United States. We all face challenging moments in our lives. Accidents, changes in work and rising prices are part of life. SNAP exists so that in these moments, our communities and kids aren't left to shoulder it alone.
This week, we need to call on our elected officials to make sure they hear these stories, to open their eyes to the realities of everyday Americans, and to demand they put our kids first by restoring SNAP in the Farm Bill.
Call your representative and spread the word.
