Take the SNAP Challenge: Raise Awareness of Hunger in Your Community
This action alert comes from FRAC: Food Research and Action Center.
Why Participate in the SNAP Challenge?
Could you get the nutrition you need on just $6 a day? That is the daily reality for more than 40 million people across the country who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger for people with low incomes. This federal program provides benefits to eligible people to purchase food at grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and other SNAP-authorized retailers.
Although the SNAP benefit is vital to the individuals and families who participate, the average SNAP benefit is not enough for most people to have an adequate and healthy diet. The SNAP Challenge offers a glimpse of the struggle millions of people with low incomes face daily to obtain nutritious food.
By attempting to live on the average SNAP benefit, SNAP Challenge participants find themselves forced to make food shopping choices on a limited budget and learn how difficult it is to avoid hunger, afford nutritious foods, stay healthy, and be focused on work, school, and taking care of family.
By participating in the SNAP Challenge, you will:
raise awareness of hunger in your community,
promote the need to increase SNAP benefits, and
get the attention of Congress to protect SNAP.
While living on a SNAP budget for a few days cannot come close to the struggles encountered by families wrestling with all of the issues that come with poverty, your participation will help you gain a new perspective, greater understanding, and more compassion.
Arizona Districts with most SNAP Households**
District 7 (Rep. Raúl Grijalva) — 286,684 total households; 55,800 on SNAP (19.5%)
District 3 (Rep. Yassamin Ansari) — 260,461 total households; 46,084 on SNAP (17.7%)
District 2 (Rep. Eli Crane) — 309,053 total households; 39,388 on SNAP (12.7%)
District 9 (Rep. Paul Gosar) — 310,582 total households; 31,075 on SNAP (10.0%)
District 6 (Rep. Juan Ciscomani) — 340,718 total households; 28,931 on SNAP (8.5%)
District 8 (Rep. Abe Hamadeh) — 317,869 total households; 26,010 on SNAP (8.2%)
District 4 (Rep. Greg Stanton) — 323,761 total households; 24,145 on SNAP (7.5%)
District 1 (Rep. David Schweikert) — 357,699 total households; 17,957 on SNAP (5.0%)
District 5 (Rep. Andy Biggs) — 289,963 total households; 13,382 on SNAP (4.6%)
**Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
Congressional Recess Action Alert
The upcoming congressional recess (March 15–23) will be a great time to engage and involve Members of Congress in the SNAP Challenge, March 18–20.
Here are some different ways your congregation can engage in the various challenge activities:
Participate in the challenge;
Take part in a SNAP Shop;
Host a community roundtable conversation with your congregation along with those taking the challenge and current or former SNAP recipients.
More info
See the 1,800 organizations (including LAMA) on the SNAP support letter to Congress detailing the benefits of SNAP and urging Members to oppose any proposals that cut, gut, or weaken the program.
See FRAC's press release. Share this letter with your congressional delegation (House and Senate) to ensure that the roar of support continues to emanate from within your state/district.
For additional resources, use FRAC's SNAP fact sheet for your state and congressional district-level data.