SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sometimes known as food stamps, provides low-income families with money to purchase food each month.

What is SNAP and why is it so important?

SNAP is one of the most effective and efficient federal programs, as well as one of the most responsive, providing additional assistance to needy families during economic downturns. It’s also one of the most-needed: 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits to buy food each month, according to the USDA. Two-thirds of these SNAP benefits go to households with children.

What can you buy with SNAP benefits?

SNAP benefits are used to purchase food, including things like bread, cereal, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products and snacks. You can’t use SNAP benefits to purchase alcohol, cigarettes, pet food, paper products and household supplies.

What is WIC and who is it for?

In addition to SNAP, one of the largest and most effective federal nutrition programs is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC benefits are primarily for children under the age of five or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. According to the latest figures from the USDA, in 2023, the WIC program provided benefits to more than 6 million people from low-income households and served 39 percent of all infants born in the United States.

Through WIC, moms can get nutritious foods for their young children, as well as access to important services at WIC clinics, including nutrition education, counseling and referrals to local health and welfare agencies. Learn more about the difference between WIC and SNAP.

Source: No Kid Hungry

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, federal food assistance will not be disbursed in November due to the federal government shutdown. This means that over 40 million people who rely on SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not receive funds to purchase food. Some states will fund the program without the federal dollars, however PA has already announced that approximately 2 million Pennsylvanians will not get their food benefits as of November 1st.

While local food banks and other community outreach programs are already prepping for increased traffic, most organizations report that they doubt that they will be able to fill the gap that will be felt due to the loss of SNAP benefits.

Who will be impacted by the SNAP benefit crisis? The loss of SNAP benefits will impact millions of low-income individuals and families, including 16 million working families who work low-wage jobs and struggle to afford basic needs. This includes:

• Families with children
• Seniors
• People with disabilities
• Veterans
• Working families
• Communities of color

These groups face higher rates of food insufficiency and depend on the SNAP program to supplement their food budget and ensure that they do not go hungry.

Hunger is a problem that most often affects children from low-income families. A common way we measure poverty is the federal poverty level, a number set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The federal poverty level is the minimum amount of money a family needs each year to afford the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

In 2023, the federal poverty level was $30,900 for a family of four. Of course, this number is a minimum. Families making twice that much are still considered low-income by most experts, and many struggle to make ends meet.

How many Americans live in poverty? 43 million, or 12.9% of all Americans.

58% of household in America participated in one or more of the three largest federal nutrition assistant programs: SNAP, WIC and the national school lunch program according to data collected in 2023.

According to Feeding America, even before the SNAP benefit crisis, 1 in 5 kids in the United States didn't know where their next meal would come from. Students across the nation aren't getting enough to eat. And children who are hungry may struggle to concentrate in class and fall behind academically. They may also be more likely to miss school due to illness and suffer from irritability, low self-esteem, or a lack of energy.

According to Christina Martinez, the Program Manager of Children and Families at Feeding America, "Children need nutrients so that they can grow, develop and focus on learning instead of thinking about the food they need." Come November 1st, when SNAP benefits are not replenished across Pennsylvania, more students are going to be experiencing food insecurity and may exhibit one or more of these signs:

• Asking about food and not being picky about what they eat
• Sudden los of weight without a change in activity level
• Hoarding snacks and food
• Bullying behaviors towards others
• Poor attention span, memory issues, or trouble concentrating
• Hyperactive or impulsive behaviors
• Aggressive or antisocial behaviors
• Increased irritability

If you believe that a student is showing signs of hunger or struggling due to food insecurity, please reach out to your building social worker.

The SNAP crisis means that schools will likely face higher costs and an increase in student hunger. The government shutdown combined with stricter eligibility rules means that millions of families wil have less money for food. This will cause a sharp increase in food insecurity and hunger among students and potentially staff members, impacting their health and development. Food insecurity is linked to poorer academic performance, lower test scores, and increased disciplinary problems in schools. In addition, cuts to SNAP benefits means that families will have reduced purchasing power, which may lead to a decrease in the overall quality of children's diets.

While schools often focus on our students, the SNAP benefit crisis will impact adults too. For many families with jobs, SNAP is an important benefit that supplements their income to ensure that everyone has access to affordable food. Many families depend on SNAP due to under employment, layoffs, family size, caring for elderly relatives and a host of other reasons. Remember, some of our colleagues may use SNAP benefits to feed their family, extra care, compassion, and grace can go a long way during this difficult time.

Physical

• Stomach growling: A rumbling stomach is a direct signal that the body needs energy.
• Headache: A persistent or throbbing headache can be a sign of physical hunger.
• Tiredness: A lack of food can lead to low energy, making a child feel lethargic or listless.
• Thirst: Hunger and thirst can be linked, and children may feel thirsty when hungry.

Behavioral

• Irritability and mood swings: Hunger can make children grumpy, impatient, or "hangry".
• Lack of focus: A hungry child may have trouble concentrating in school or on activities.
• Hyperactivity: In some cases, a lack of nutrition can lead to a child becoming hyperactive.
• Aggression: Hunger can contribute to aggressive or antisocial behavior.
• Constant food focus: A child may seem fixated on food, talk about it incessantly, or ask about the next meal or snack more than usual.
• Hoarding or sneaking food: A child who is worried about where their next meal will come from may hoard snacks or take more than they need.

Other

• Frequent illness: Children who are malnourished may get sick more often.
• Poor growth: Malnutrition can lead to a child not growing or gaining weight at an expected rate.
• Nutrient-specific issues: Lack of certain vitamins can cause specific problems like poor eyesight in the dark (Vitamin A) or bone and muscle pain (Vitamin D).

Do you keep snacks in your office? Consider making them readily available for students and staff members who may be hungry. Make a general announcement sharing that students who aren't getting enough to eat can help themselves. Consider school-based snack areas or announcements about where to access food when faced with hunger.

Each year, our social work team works with local organizations to provide families with holiday meals and gifts. Consider a donation to your social worker for one of these projects to help directly support a Springfield Township family.

Our food services company, Chartwells, provides amazing breakfast and lunch options each and every day. Make sure that students know that they can access a hot breakfast and lunch even if they do not have funds on their lunch account. No student should go hungry during the day.

Our district social worker team works closely with families in need to support access to local food banks. Within our local area, there are six main food banks that help serve our community.

Food banks are always in need of donations! Monetary donations to your local banks helps them buy food in bulk for less, purchase fresh and perishable items for distribution, and allows them to ensure that they have critical items (like infant formula, peanut butter, and milk) when needed. Want to learn more about why monetary donations are needed? Check out this article from Feeding America.

The School District of Springfield Township feels that it is important to remember those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity. Foodfinder.us is a nonprofit website and app (for iOS or Android) that offers the location and contact information of more than 40,000 food pantries and similar food programs across the country. The FoodFinder website and app can be utilized to pinpoint local free food providers within the community.

Alternative Gifting: Do you dread holiday gift exchanges? What if your group agreed to a group donation to a food bank instead of exchanging gifts?

Potluck Parties: Time for another potluck? Sometimes not everyone is able to stretch their food budget to make a community meal. Consider sign-ups that allow everyone to participate without bringing a food dish.

Volunteer Hours: Over the holidays, lots of charitable organizations from soup kitchens to food banks get volunteers. However, they need this support year round. Rather than giving your time in November or December, consider another time of the year when you can contribute.

Support Local: Local businesses are some of the best sources for giving back to the community. Do you research and spend your funds at places that give back to the local community and people in need.