SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a program that supplies extra money to millions of people throughout America so they can more easily purchase food. Lots of people use SNAP, including some at Pleasant Valley High School. And while SNAP is typically not talked about at large, it has recently been making headlines due to cuts. Even now, millions are still recovering after these cuts due to the prior government shutdown and other events. For those recovering from recent cuts, and for anybody who may gain access to it in the future, understanding how it works is deeply helpful. And even those who may know nobody using SNAP, understanding it is crucial for helping people who may not have access to it.
To gain SNAP benefits, the extra money given, one must first apply. However, only certain eligible people can apply, leading some to not be able to access these benefits. For ineligible or rejected people who need the help, food pantries are often a powerful, but limited, solution. A local food pantry is at CSU Chico, the Center for Healthy Communities. This pantry helps those who may not be able to obtain SNAP benefits, allowing them to stay healthy and fit. At PV, if you ever see cardboard boxes around encouraging the donation of food, feel free to donate if you can. Toiletries and shelf-stable food is highly demanded, along with basic garments that not all may have. There is also currently a Salvation Army bin in the library for students to donate in, reaching a much more wide area of Butte County. When asked, Natalie Windt, a staff member at the Center for Healthy Communities, says that the best way to directly support them and other food pantries is to directly donate money. The money allows for “wider bulk purchasing of food cheaper than consumer prices,” allowing them to spread the money more.
Despite one’s opinion on how much SNAP should be funded, there is an agreement in its impact. SNAP allows people to more readily eat and stay strong. And even when SNAP funding is cut, communities are resilient. Communities such as PV’s. With constant areas around PV’s campus to donate, PV is helping the cause a lot. Key Club administrator, Mrs. Gregroire, says that she, while incredibly happy with what PV has done so far, is also encouraging more students to donate by “saying the viking family gives, not pushing anyone out,“ and also by “having Mrs. Besnard put together a slide so that you know who you’re donating to, not just giving a can of beans,” but putting a face behind the act. Of course, no matter the person behind the item, or amount of wealth donated, there is a hungry individual still in need of food. When SNAP is running normally, hungry people still rely on various food pantries. And now that recent cuts, debate, and visibility have reached heights never seen before, an uncertainty fills the air. However, no matter how strong this uncertainty is, the message is clear. If one is able to, donate to food pantries: either financially or materially. A student of the PV community, Aidan Schaffer says that donating is important to “make sure that everyone can eat, no matter how much … money they have“. In case of hard times ahead, consider donating to food pantries if you can. SNAP is not always reliable and we still must make sure people keep eating; one way or another.
