Food Stamp Cuts Create High Demand for Food Bank Supplies

The Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as the food stamp program, recently found itself without new funding from Congress. This resulted in approximately 47 million Americans having their food stamp benefits cut. In an interview with a family receiving food stamp assistance, a mother feels her monthly cut will affect the health of her family in a very negative way. This mother says her $53 monthly cut will prevent her from purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. She plans on buying packaged fruits and freeze dried vegetables now in order to stay within her tighter budget.

I feel the interview with this mother paints a vivid picture of the social determinants of health, specifically income. This single mother has two children, and her main source of income is an $830 per month babysitting job. With SNAP, she is able to somewhat overcome her income barrier and provide healthy, fresh foods for her family. With the recent cuts to SNAP, her available funds are reduced, and those fresh, healthy foods that kept her family in good health can no longer be purchased. The article details that one in seven Americans receives benefits through SNAP, and a $40 billion program cut is currently being debated in Congress. If the program is cut, many Americans will find themselves living less healthy lives, because they simply cannot afford to do so. Seniors, children, veterans, and diabetics tend to rely on SNAP assistance the most, and these at-risk groups will become even more vulnerable. The cuts made to SNAP will become a public health issue because income will be a greater determinant of health than before, and the health of nearly 47 million Americans will suffer because of it.

The food stamp cuts are of great concern for food pantries and food banks across the nation. Many worry that demand will far exceed supply. Spokespersons for various food banks have agreed that this demand will require food lines to be cut once the maximum number of people has been served, and food bags will have to be reduced in quantity and quality in order to serve more people. Many are concerned that the lack of support through food organizations will cause a major stepping stone to independent living to be destroyed. This idea plays into the multi-faceted view of health. If one’s food and nutrition needs are not taken care of, then many other aspects of life, such as physical activity, caring for a family, and finding and maintaining a job, will suffer.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/02/food-stamps-cuts-food-banks/3356667/