The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has entered its third week of delays as a result of the US government shutdown.
As SNAP recipients swipe their EBT cards during their weekly and biweekly grocery trips, they hope their remaining October funds will cover their groceries. This hope has become the new normal for some Temple students.
Senior Criminal Justice major Peyton Giordano anticipates not receiving her November benefits and is planning accordingly.
“I still had some money left over because it would be my end of the month before I get it. And, I definitely have been pulling back on the amount that I buy and limiting what I get,” explained Giordano.
And for students like Junior Public Relations and Audio and Live Entertainment major Maya Eberlin, these delays are forcing them to choose between work and school.
“I’m just going to buy ingredients and make myself food because it’ll last longer. Which is just like, again, I’m working more, more time doing that, more time cooking, more time literally doing everything,” emphasized Eberlin.
Even if SNAP benefits are restored in the coming days, students will continue to feel the effects of the delays.
So, local food banks and pantries are taking the pressure off SNAP delays and creating positive change. Organizations like Share Food Program are working to supply sufficient resources for students and community members.
“We have ramped up emergency food delivery, we’ve been getting more boxes out to our food pantries, to our community, and have been able to partner on kind of ad-hoc pop-up events as they’ve come out,” described Share Food Program’s Chief of Staff, AnneMarie Horowitz.
Although many are unsure and afraid of the future of their SNAP benefits and food security, Peyton Giordano says she is optimistic about the end of the government shutdown.
“People, once everything is back up and running, will seek out these resources because they are so helpful. And I know it doesn’t feel like it now with everything going on, but I think SNAP benefits have been just life-changing,” emphasized Giordano.
Links to Additional Food Resources and Organizations
Share Food Program – Find a Food Site
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