SNAP serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans.

SNAP serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans.

One of the biggest impacts of the government shutdown is about to hit tens of millions of the poorest Americans hard: the halting of a critical food assistance program.

Several states are now warning they will be forced to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits come Nov. 1 if the shutdown continues.

SNAP, often referred to as “food stamps,” serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans. The program, run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food.

  • CubitOom@infosec.pubEnglish
    26·
    15 hours ago
    • Texas (Oct. 27)
    • Washington D.C. (November 2025)
    • Washington state (November 1st)
    • Pennsylvania
    • Minnesota
    • New York
    • WIC [USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children] (Nov. 1)

    Reminder to donate to your local food pantries if able.

    • MrMcGasion@lemmy.world
      16·
      1 day ago

      Also, when donating to local food pantries, remember that donations of money go farther and feed more than donations of food. Food pantries have access to economies of scale and can buy food cheaper than an individual can. So you’ll increase your impact if you just donate your cash straight to the food pantry, rather than going to the grocery store to buy food to donate. In addition, the food pantry will be able to more accurately supply what people actually need and stock what they are short on, rather than you just guessing.