FRAC Chat

During the holidays and all year long, millions of individuals and families who struggle against hunger are able to access healthy food with support from the federal nutrition programs. To celebrate the nation’s nutrition safety net, FRAC is releasing a seven-part “Remember This December” series that will highlight the impact of seven important federal nutrition programs.

This is the third installment of the series, which focuses on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Read the previous installment on afterschool meals.

Within the growing senior population, many older Americans struggle to afford the basics. With that in mind, making a case for protecting and strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for Americans 60 years and older is more critical than ever. FRAC, in collaboration with AARP Foundation, recently created and launched state and county maps to demonstrate that SNAP matters to seniors across our nation.

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, all of us are reflecting on what we are thankful for, and I would bet that two things top many of our lists: family and food. A “public charge” rule recently proposed by the Trump Administration would force a large number of immigrant families to make an impossible choice between the two.

Veterans Day provides an opportunity to salute the brave individuals who have served our country. For me, the day begins with wondering why so many men and women who have served our country now struggle with hunger. It’s simply unacceptable in one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Beyond an empty stomach, food insecurity is associated with serious and costly health problems, which no veteran should experience.

The State of Obesity recently released a collection of firsthand accounts from SNAP participants. The collection of SNAP stories goes beyond facts and figures and uses personal experience to discuss the critical support SNAP provides to individuals from all walks of life across the nation. StoryCorps and Upworthy produced the narratives with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.