On November 1, for the first time in its history, the U.S. government ceased funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP, as it is more commonly known, has long been our nation’s most extensive and effective anti-hunger program, providing nearly 42 million Americans per month — including 1.8 million New Yorkers, about a fifth of the city’s population — with what is often the only means to feed themselves and their families.
While yesterday’s court ruling ordering the federal government to reinstate SNAP benefits is welcome news, it will likely take days, if not weeks, to pay November benefits to those in need — and there is a possibility that they may not be paid at all. This presents dire implications for some members of the Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) community, as many of our students and their families rely on SNAP benefits or are living with serious food insecurity. During the academic year, SSP funds countless school lunches for our students attending private schools across New York City’s five boroughs.
The news may be grim, but we are not powerless in this situation. There are actions each of us can take to alleviate hunger and food insecurity in communities citywide, including:
Find food, free of charge. If you or someone you know is directly impacted by the lapse in SNAP benefits, City Harvest has compiled a list of pantries, soup kitchens, mobile markets, and other distribution centers in our area offering free food.
Donate to — or volunteer at — your local food bank or pantry.
Write your member of Congress. Share with them how you and your community have been affected by the halt in SNAP benefits and food insecurity in general.
We are on the cusp of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, a time when hunger and food insecurity will be felt most acutely by those in need. In the coming weeks, please visit our website and follow our social media channels as we announce other ways you can make a difference for SSP students and their families in this critical time.
Ever upward,
Debra De Jesus-Vizzi
Executive Director, Student Sponsor Partners
