No Kid Hungry - Giving Thanks for SNAP this Thanksgiving

Op-Ed

By Mike Quigley

This Thanksgiving, while thousands of Illinois families gather to celebrate over an abundance of turkey and stuffing, thousands more will struggle to just put food on the table. That's because on November 1st, millions of hardworking Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide for their families during tough times had their benefits cut by an average of $36 per month.

That may not seem like much to some, but the average family on SNAP, also known as food stamps, receives just $1.40 per meal. Think about it this way: a recent USA Today article estimates that the average Thanksgiving dinner costs nearly $50. Yet a family of four living on SNAP will have just $5.60 to spend on that meal.

For many years, I have had the privilege of volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which provides food to over half a million Chicagoans every year. While volunteering at my neighborhood pantry in Lakeview during the holiday season, I've heard stories from some of the folks who rely on SNAP. They are our friends and neighbors who have fallen on hard times and need our help.

With even less money to spend on groceries, it's critical that Illinois families who rely on SNAP during hard times have the skills and resources needed to stretch their limited food dollars and provide healthy, affordable meals for their families.

One way families can learn these skills locally is through Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters program, Hosted by EverThrive Illinois. The program empowers families by teaching them how to shop smarter, make healthier food choices and cook delicious and nutritious meals on a budget. With 8 in 10 low-income families reporting that they cook dinner at home five or more times per week, these skills are essential for those struggling to stretch their budgets.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I was able to join Illinois families for a Cooking Matters at the Store tour, where we learned how to compare unit pricing, the differences between fresh and frozen produce, and even how to cut up a whole chicken. These valuable life skills are helping families gain the smart shopping and healthy cooking skills needed to be more prudent providers for their children for a lifetime.

As I head back to Capitol Hill, these experiences will stick with me as Congress considers further cuts to SNAP. I strongly oppose recent efforts in the House of Representatives to slash SNAP by $40 billion, which would deny meals to nearly four million Americans next year alone. When 47 million people struggle to put food on the table, we should be strengthening the safety net, not cutting larger holes in it.

This holiday season, as we gather with friends and family to give thanks and reflect on our blessings, let's all be thankful for programs like SNAP that allow families to put food on the table and recommit to protecting vital services for the most vulnerable in our communities.

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