A Movement Toward Food Justice
This morning, I will begin living on a food budget of $30 a week / $4.32 per day. This is the financial equivalent of the budget provided to people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, in the State of New Jersey. I will live only on a SNAP equivalent food budget for the next seven days.
Undertaking what is referred to as the #SNAPChallenge began with a social media-based conversation on Twitter. A Twitter user tweeted me her opinion that "nutrition is not the responsibility of the government". This comment caused me to reflect on the families and children in my community who benefit from SNAP assistance and deserve deeper consideration. In my own quest to better understand the outcomes of SNAP assistance, I suggested to this specific Twitter user that we both live on a SNAP equivalent food budget for a week and document our experience.
A simple conversation on Twitter drew me into the #SNAPChallenge I am beginning today. My goals for the #SNAPChallenge are to raise awareness and understanding of food insecurity; reduce the stigma of SNAP participation; elevate innovative local and national food justice initiatives and food policy; and, amplify compassion for individuals and communities in need of assistance. Over the next seven days, I plan to highlight the voices of people involved in local food policy, the SNAP program, and other related initiatives.
As I begin this journey, I am doubling down on my commitment to the Food Justice Movement that is gaining awareness and participation in this country. We have much work to do at the local level to address a legacy of structural inequities in the American food system. As more and more working people and families - many holding down more than one job - face greater and greater challenges to juggle housing, medical, and transportation costs, meeting nutritional needs becomes a serious problem and a social justice issue. The struggle of children, seniors, and families to have access to essential nutrition is a struggle we are all invested in and we all benefit when families succeed. Now more than ever we are all in this together.
Throughout this week, I will document my #SNAPChallenge experiences and reflections on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and through video on #waywire. If you are interested in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, I encourage you to click the reference links below.
REFERENCE LINKS
- 2012 overview of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/MENU/Published/snap/FILES/Other/BuildingHealthyAmerica.pdf
- National Characteristics of SNAP households 2011 http://www.fns.usda.gov/ORA/menu/Published/SNAP/FILES/Participation/2011CharacteristicsSummary.pdf
- Who is eligible for SNAP? http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/contact_info/widget.htm
Hard-working veteran just trying to enjoy life; exercise w/ purpose!
10yI've had to use food stamps a few times. Sometimes you have to put your pride aside & accept the help you need. At least I got a partial return on my employment taxes through the yrs.
DIRECTOR GENERAL / SOCIO en J.P. CASA NOBLE, S.A. DE C.V.
11yI have to congratulated you. Lets keep in touch if you do not mind, because I will be and spoke and do person of what you are doing,because it is so important in places like México,but it will be my job to find the right and honest people. Regards
Corporate Trainer, Improv Instructor, Theatre Director, Playwright
11yI'm really tired of this argument: "(fill in program here) is bad because I've seen people abuse it, scam it, or use it when they don't deserve it." Everything that exists is used badly by someone. Should we get rid of religion because the KKK burn crosses in people's lawns or the Westboro Baptist Church protests military funerals? Are airplanes bad because of 9-11? Are cars bad because some people drive drunk in them and kill people? Find a better argument.
Software Testing | Manual Test Strategies | Functional, Regression & Performance Testing | Requirements Analysis |
11yI disagree with you. I was working for SNAP program and can tell you from first-hand experience that I saw people every day (young, healthy, with a late model of iPhone in their hands, designer clothers) who came to the SNAP office and DEMAND food stamps. I couldn't forget one guy on one of the first days at work: playing with his iPhone, sitting in relaxed pose with his new sneakers almost in my face, with muscles you can get only if you spend a few hours in a gym a week (for which you have to pay), he was demanding emergency food stamps because "I am hungry". And I wanted to ask (I am not allowed to do so): you have money for iPhone and service, for new designer sneakers, and you demanding money for food?!! We had young mothers who have baby after baby without husbands(well, official husbands). She is irresponsible to have several kids without being able to provide even for 1 and now I have to pay more taxes to feed all her kids!!! Undocumented aliens come every day, they are not eligible, but their kids (who were born here and both moms and babies were provided with medical help out of taxpayers money to which nether these women, nor their boyfriends contribute) are eligible. One family of illegal immigrants had 4 (!!) American-citizen babies!! Welcome to the US! We'll feed the whole world out of our tax money!!! Angry citizen
AT&T Director | Marketing, Product Management, Sales Operations | Product Innovator | Change & Transformation Agent | Diversity & Community Ambassador
11yGood luck Cory! Back in grad school I lived off of Campbell's chicken soup with rice and crackers for a time..it was also nice to have a local butcher who provided cheap meat. Not sure in 2013 managing to such a low budget is attainable, especially while meeting some semblance of nutrition.