Grace Zweitzig loves to cook. One of her favorite meals is pasta — gluten-free, of course.
“I can’t eat regular pasta,” Zweitzig said. “It’s stressful because you don’t want to think about where your next meal is going to come from.”
Zweitzig uses SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to pay for groceries. But with a government shutdown looming, those benefits could soon be paused, leaving students like her unsure how they’ll afford food.
“It’s not a decision that I think any of us should have to be making,” Zweitzig said. “Choosing between paying for a bill and choosing food.”
According to Temple University, 37 percent of students have experienced food insecurity. Temple Student Government’s Director of Basic Needs, Rian Turner, says the issue is becoming critical.
“Food should be the last thing on someone’s mind, even though sadly it’s the first thing on some people’s mind,” Turner said.
Turner added that if the shutdown continues, TSG plans to expand food drive initiatives to support students in need.
“If that were to happen on November 1st, this will be an initiative that will run until I’m out of this position,” she said.
For students like Zweitzig, these programs are essential.
“It’s not embarrassing,” she said. “Nobody should be going hungry. There’s no shame in it. The government has these programs for a reason.”
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