With the economy slowly chipping away at the finances of the average, low-income American family, keeping food on the table has only gotten harder, leaving hundreds of thousands of Americans struggling.
The government recognized this problem long ago, and food assistance programs were created to help these impoverished individuals and families stay fed even when they can’t afford nutritious and healthy food.
Programs like SNAP have been around for decades, evolving from what was once known as food stamps into a program that offers funds to be used on food products using a digital payment card, similar to how a credit card works.
With the help of these programs, low-income Americans can deal with other issues rather than having to worry about paying for food, which will ultimately lead to their financial independence, making room for others who require help with their finances.
SNAP
As one of the most commonly known food assistance programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has helped millions of Americans meet their nutritional needs for months on end.
By depositing an agreed-upon amount of money into a beneficiary’s EBT card, the program can ensure that the applicant will remain fed for as long as they keep collecting their benefits.
One of the main advantages of this program is the fact that it’s incredibly difficult to abuse, as the funds are limited to being spent on food products, and even that excludes certain hot foods and perishables.
This way, no money is wasted and the money that isn’t used is carried over into the next month.
With funds on the EBT card, a SNAP beneficiary can buy fruits, vegetables, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and any other essential items one would find at the grocery store, whereas products such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages can’t be purchased.
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
There are a few better places to get healthy, nutritious food than straight from the supplier themselves, and while farmer’s markets can be costly for most Americans, some government programs can help lower this expense.
As part of the WIC program, which focuses on women, children, and infants, eligible participants can receive coupons that can be exchanged for foods at participating farmers’ markets, farms and roadside stands that have been approved by the FMNP agency.
This program is available to women, children, and infants that are over 4 months old, so long as they’re eligible for the WIC program benefits.
Grants are given to states by the federal government, after which the money is distributed by state agencies that administer the program.
100% of the food costs and around 70% of the administrative costs of the program are handled by the federal government.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Finally, we have CACFP, the program that ensures no child has to go to school on an empty stomach, and they do it with reimbursements or discounts on nutritious food for qualifying parents or children.
This also includes reimbursement for foods served to kids at afterschool care programs and those residing in emergency shelters, as well as food given to adults over the age of 60 that are living with a disability or are currently located in a daycare facility.
By doing this, the program directly contributes to the development and well-being of growing children in the US, as well as certain adults and senior citizens with disabilities that prevent them from having access to nutritious food on their own.
Unlike most other programs, CACFP assistance is handed out to care providers and daycare centers, which then distribute it evenly to anyone in need of food assistance.
Dealing with hunger
The battle against hunger has been a long one, and sadly, it’s not over yet, as thousands of children across the world, and in the US, still don’t have constant access to nutritious food.
With the help of the many government programs that aim to solve this problem, this number has been reduced drastically in recent years, but it’s nowhere near gone.
Programs like SNAP have been around for a long time, and have effectively helped thousands of communities deal with the presence of hunger through food stamps and in recent years, EBT card payments.
With help from the government, low-income Americans can get access to nutritious food, which then allows them to focus on other, more pressing matters that need to be addressed.
This way, they can deal with one problem at a time, slowly working towards their own financial independence while relying on the government for assistance with nutrition, housing, or employment.
By doing this, the government is technically investing in these individuals and families, allowing them to grow and slowly become functioning members of society while also making room for others that may be in need of financial assistance at that time.