Starting September 15th, Utahns Against Hunger encourages ALL Utahns to take the 2017 Utah SNAP Challenge and experience what it is like to eat on $4.20 a day.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, is the largest national nutrition assistance program and is a first line of defense against hunger.
Participants are encouraged to join the challenge for 7 days, but also have the option to commit to 1, 3, or 5 days. Each participant pledges to live off $4.20 per day per person, which is the national average benefit for SNAP. By joining, participants experience a glimpse into some of the struggles faced by millions of low-income Americans who are trying to put food on their tables. The SNAP Challenge provides an opportunity to experience how difficult it is for families living on SNAP to simultaneously avoid hunger, afford nutritious foods, and stay healthy with limited resources.
In addition to the general public, Utahns Against Hunger invites Utah’s congressional delegation and other elected officials to commit to the SNAP Challenge. “Utah’s Members of Congress play an important role in preserving and protecting SNAP in the budget and in the upcoming Farm Bill,” said Gina Cornia, Executive Director of Utahns Against Hunger. “We encourage all participants to reach out to their representatives and encourage them to join the 2017 Utah SNAP Challenge.”
“While living on a SNAP budget for just a week cannot come close to the struggles encountered by low-income families week after week and month after month, it does provide those who take the Challenge with a new perspective of how modest these benefits are and the important role they play in helping families put food on the table,” said Marti Woolford, Nutrition Initiatives Director at Utahns Against Hunger. “We hope to shed a light on the challenges facing many in our state and the necessity to provide for the needs of low-income Utahns.”
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP kept 53,000 Utahns out of poverty, including 29,000 children, on average per year, between 2009 and 2012. These benefits are vital for the survival of many Utahns; the U.S. Census reports that between 2011-2015, 8.9% of Utahns received SNAP benefits. By participating in the 2017 Utah SNAP Challenge, Utahns will be encouraged to experience the struggles firsthand of living on $4.20 per day and advocate for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to their elected officials.
For more information on the 2017 Utah SNAP Challenge, please download the toolkit https://goo.gl/dJqcs4 or sign up at http://tiny.cc/UTSnap. Additionally, more information can be found at https://facebook.com/UtahnsAgainstHunger.
