The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most powerful tools to fight childhood hunger. One in five kids in America participates in it to grow up healthy and strong.
Read Full Letter From Mayors Urging Congress to Protect SNAP
“My mom worked two, sometimes three jobs,” explained Mayor Gaskins of Alexandria, VA. “And the truth is, no matter how hard my mom worked, we often struggled to make ends meet. And the way that showed up as a child is I would go to the fridge and many times there was nothing in there to eat. And so I feel deeply and personally committed to making sure that no child goes hungry… [Programs like SNAP have] been proven for decades making sure that children have what they need, not just in school but before school, after school, and during summer and winter breaks.”
Why SNAP Matters
Today, nearly 14 million kids live with hunger in America. In the wealthiest nation in the world, it’s a situation that is unacceptable. SNAP has been a lifeline for families experiencing economic hardship, helping ensure their kids don’t suffer in those difficult moments. Sometimes people face unexpected crises due to losing a job or a surprise medical bill that puts their kids at risk of not having enough to eat.
Shanae Bond, a mother of four, is currently a community leader in Washington, DC. She helps parents like herself become advocates to advance policy that supports their kids.
She remembers a time when SNAP supported her in a moment of crisis. “I was working as a doula,” Bond shared. “During the pandemic, everyone wasn’t really comfortable with you coming into their home. So, that made it difficult to keep clients and make the money that I was making before… And that was very hard for me to adjust to with my family just having less income. I decided to apply for SNAP, and it definitely helped bring more food to the table.”
Bond understands the importance of SNAP because she has experienced it firsthand. She knows that no family should have to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table.
While addressing elected officials, she said, “I would definitely invite policymakers to envision themselves at a table, at a dinner table with a family or their own family, and be there with them and understand that the changes and the policies that they are considering is like taking food off the plate of those around them at that table.”
Your Voice Matters Now More Than Ever
Mayors, parents, and community leaders are calling on their representatives in Congress to protect SNAP in this crucial moment. Cuts to SNAP would be catastrophic for families struggling to keep up with the rising prices of food and those going through economic hardship. Regardless of our political ideology, we can all agree that no child in America should ever go hungry.
We ask you to use your voice and write your representative to protect SNAP right now.