What's Happening with SNAP and How You Can Help

One in eight people in the United States uses SNAP benefits to help keep nutritious food on the table.

One in eight people in the U.S. — that’s how many depend on SNAP to help get the nutritious food they need.

SNAP benefits keep millions of Americans from going hungry. For every meal that food banks provide, SNAP provides 9. Food access should never be a negotiating tool.

But many myths persist about SNAP and who receives it. These myths are dangerous and with November SNAP benefits frozen, we are heading for a crisis.

Food banks throughout our region have spent the last couple of years growing and scaling as rapidly as we can to meet the urgent need.

We will be doing what we can to fill in as much of the gap as possible, but it will take everyone in our community, donating what we can, coming together to volunteer, and checking in on our neighbors.

Get the facts on SNAP, the current situation, and how you can help.

What exactly is SNAP?

  • SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps low-income families pay for groceries.

  • It is funded by the federal government through the US Department of Agriculture and was formerly known as the food stamp program, dating back to 1939.

  • The goal is for people to have access to a nutritionally adequate diet.

  • Funds are loaded onto a card each month that can be used like a debit card at grocery stores that accept it. Not all grocery items are SNAP eligible.

  • You may also hear people refer to EBT, which stands for Electronic Benefit Transfer – the service used to process these payments at stores.

Who gets SNAP?

  • Nearly 42 million people, over 12% of the U.S. population, receive SNAP benefits.

  • About two-thirds of SNAP recipients are not expected to work - mostly children, older adults, or disabled people along with parents caring for young children.

  • Most SNAP recipients who can work do so.

What’s happening to it?

Two things are happening at once.

  • SNAP payments are pausing completely due to the government shutdown. This means families who receive SNAP will not be getting these funds in November and will be losing hundreds of dollars toward their food budget for the month.

  • Planned cuts to SNAP and updated requirements are scheduled to kick in even if funding resumes.

How do these cuts impact the food bank?

  • Increasing food insecurity means more need for our services.

    • During the early pandemic, the government increased SNAP payments and made them easier to get. In early 2023 when those increases ended, we saw a 30% increase in households visiting the food bank.

    • Over the past year, we’ve seen another 30+% increase due to inflation and job cuts.

    • We expect to see at least that much of an increase with these cuts.

  • Impacts on grocery stores and the economy will lead to ripple effects.

    • SNAP makes up 8-12% of grocery sales nationwide, and up to 33% in some areas.

    • When those sales don’t happen, that money isn’t flowing into the local economy.

    • As grocery store sales decline, those stores also need to cut spending and may have less to donate to food banks.

    • Stores also raise their prices, making groceries expensive for all shoppers.

When SNAP benefits were increased, Ballard Food Bank saw less visitors. When SNAP benefits rolled back the numbers shot back up

What is the food bank doing to prepare for the loss of SNAP?

  • Food banks and food bank employees are scrappy! We’re continuing to adapt and scale as we’ve had to the past couple of years.

  • We’re making choices – sometimes difficult ones – about what foods to purchase.

  • To prepare to serve more families, we’ve been trying new suppliers to stretch the budget.

  • We’re strengthening our connections with local grocery store partners for both grocery recovery and large-scale food drives.

  • We’re also expanding our sources of food by growing our harvesting program at two local farms and continuing to build our relationships with farmers markets, local farmers and P-Patches.

  • We’re exploring ways to expand home delivery and pickup options to keep lines from getting even longer.

  • Expecting both larger crowds and increased stress, we’re leaning into our values to keep welcoming guests with care, respect, and dignity.

How can I help?

  • Our biggest need right now is for monetary donations. Any amount helps!

    • We can buy in bulk to stretch our budget and prioritize most-needed items.

    • Monthly gifts are especially great because they help us know what to expect so we can plan our food purchases all year round.

  • If you’re not able to make a financial gift, spread the word about how much it’s needed!

  • Volunteer! We couldn’t reach nearly the number of neighbors without our devoted volunteers and will need more help as we continue to grow.

  • We also always appreciate donations of shelf-stable food, diapers, toiletries etc. See here for details.

Ballard Food Bank