Imagine you’re a single mom making minimum wage, a senior citizen living on a fixed income, or a disabled veteran living alone. Life is a daily struggle and simply putting food on the table can be a challenge. How are you getting by? How are you able to provide for yourself and your family?
For some of us, we have family, friends and other resources to fall back on in times of hardship. Many Americans, however, don’t have that support. Fortunately, as a nation, we have a way to provide assistance and nourishment to those who need it most.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), authorized through the Farm Bill, is our nation’s largest and most successful supplemental nutrition initiative; however, it is currently at risk and we need your help to save it.
SNAP provides about $125 a month to 42.2 million Americans for groceries and needs to be reauthorized by Congress by September 30th of this year. SNAP benefits, more commonly referred to as food stamps, typically support working families or households earning less than $26,000 a year, as well as seniors and those with disabilities – some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
An average low-cost food budget for a family of four averages out to $164 a week, or $713 a month. SNAP only provides $125 a month total to each family, regardless of situation or income. Individuals and families already facing poverty are forced to make tough decisions and sacrifices when it comes to food, especially for those working long hours, earning low wages and living in areas that may not have access to nutritious food and quality grocery stores.
SNAP is not a long-term solution to the problem of poverty, but it serves as a path to self-sufficiency and can make all the difference in the lives of those who need it most.
As part of United Way’s advocacy effort to save SNAP, we are calling on lawmakers to preserve and protect the program. We need our lawmakers to support individuals and families struggling to break free from the cycle of poverty by protecting vital programs like SNAP.
We need YOUR help to:
- Protect and strengthen SNAP to maintain its responsiveness to combating hunger and providing financial stability.
- Ensure policies promote access and facilitate enrollment rather than create roadblocks.
Take action this National Call-In Day. Visit the Advocacy page on our website to support United Way’s campaign to protect SNAP and contact your representative by calling or sending a letter to your representative’s office today!