As of November 1st, over 42 million Americans including children, seniors, and families are without access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)—the largest federal nutrition assistance program in the United States.
Nearly 40% of SNAP recipients are children + 20% are seniors, meaning the pause in benefits directly impacts some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. But there are ways that you can help. Here are 10 meaningful ways to take action today:
1) Donate items to your local food bank
Every food item counts. Find your local food bank here and donate non-perishable foods like beans, rice, peanut butter, or canned vegetables—a good rule of thumb is to ensure your cans are not dented, bent, or expired. You can also ask your food bank if they need imperishable foods like bread, meats, dairy and eggs.
2) Cook a meal
Join Lasagna Love and bring comfort to a family in need. A home-cooked meal can do more than fill a stomach—it reminds someone they’re not alone.
3) Bake a cake for at-risk and underserved youth
Sign up for Cake 4 Kids, an organization founded in 2010 to provide free birthday cakes to foster children and at-risk youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, the nonprofit has expanded nation wide and works to serve over 440,000 children in foster care.
4) Volunteer at your local food bank
If you aren’t able to donate food, consider donating your time. Food banks depend on volunteers to keep shelves stocked and boxes filled. Whether it’s sorting donations, packing boxes, or helping with distribution, your time really does make a difference.
5) Volunteer with Meals on Wheels
Over 20 percent of SNAP recipients are seniors. By volunteering, you can help deliver hearty hot meals and provide a sense of connection to the older adults in your neighborhood.
6) Volunteer with Mercy Chef
This nonprofit organization was founded to respond to natural disasters and national emergencies at a moment’s notice. Welcoming chefs and nonchef volunteers (as young as 10-years-old) alike and located in 48 states, Mercy Chef works on the ground handing out food and water to individuals.
7) Be a ‘grocery buddy’
If you’re financially able to, find a “grocery buddy” for a period of time (ex. week, weekend, month) in which you’re able to support their grocery needs.You can find a buddy on a local online group page such as Nextdoor, Facebook, or Find a Grocery Buddy, a website launched Oct. 31 that has so far helped 36 families in 15 states.
8) Contribute to a community fridge or start your own
Organizations like Freedge works to promote equal access to healthy food through via public refrigerators that are filled via volunteers. Check out their locations to learn how you can add food to your community’s fridge, or if there’s none nearby, you can find directions as to how to start one can be found here.
9) Volunteer at your local community garden or start your own
Community gardens provide free or low-cost produce and teach neighbors how to grow their own food. And the best part is, they grow it together, strengthening the bonds within the community. You can find a community garden near you here, or check with local schools and nonprofits to see if you can help maintain or start one.
10) Donate formula
The Free Formula Exchange is a nationwide mutual aid network connecting families who need baby formula to people who have formula to donate. This online tool is free to use and you can view donation requests near you.
