June 12, 2013

SNAP Challenge list of participants bring awareness to farm bill cuts

The proposed changes in the farm bill will allegedly deny access to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps) to an additional two million Americans, according to an article from ThinkProgress.org on June 13.

Due to the cut-backs, 26 members of Congress are participating in a SNAP Challenge this week (see member list below). They will try to live off of the $4.50 per day maximum spending allotment for food purchases and meals.

This isn't the first time a public figure took a SNAP Challenge to bring awareness to the plight of recipients.

Last December, Mayor Cory Booker took the SNAP Challenge and tweeted that day four was the most difficult day of his experiment. Booker complained of a “caffeine headache” and felt “sluggish.”

Yesterday, Rep. Barbara Lee of California narrated her adventure in the SNAP Challenge on her blog only to realize the hardships of living with a fixed meal allotment is very real. She asked others to join in on the SNAP Challenge and to share their stories.

Not many individuals could live off of (or under) $4.50 in food per day. Could you?

To see this article in its original format, go HERE.