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Nourishing Our Community: SNAP Cuts Threaten Food Security for Americans
- emmamagioncalda
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
The ache of hunger pangs after missing a meal or skipping snack time is a universal feeling, and an agonizing one. For many of us, we can quickly whip up a meal at home or grab a snack from the store to satisfy our growling stomachs. For millions of people across the United States, putting an end to the painful, gnawing emptiness of starvation isn’t so simple. As government funding cuts affect food assistance programs and the cost of living goes up, it has become harder than ever for our nation’s most vulnerable citizens to access our most basic need: food.
What food insecurity looks like
Food insecurity is a massive problem in the United States and across the globe. A person is considered food insecure if they don’t currently have access to food and don’t know when they will be able to afford food next. According to Feeding America, 47 million people who live in the United States, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity each year.
Food insecurity is a systemic issue, meaning it affects marginalized communities more than others. People with lower wages and incomes, chronic health conditions, those living in unsafe or impoverished communities, and those who face discrimination in the face of opportunity are more likely to experience disparities in food access.
As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Healthy, balanced meals are the key to maintaining both health and happiness. For those experiencing food insecurity, it is much more difficult to be able to afford healthy and nutritious food on a regular basis, if at all. This leads to a decline in both physical and mental health, both of which can affect all aspects of daily life.
Changing landscape for SNAP
Many people experiencing hunger and food insecurity rely on federally funded food assistance programs and local food pantries to feed themselves and their families. As a result of the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, the budget of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been slashed, and benefits were not issued to SNAP’s 42 million beneficiaries for the month of November. This left SNAP recipients in crisis and struggling to figure out where their next meal will come from.
On November 9, New York Governor Kathy Hochul authorized the release of full November SNAP payments to eligible New Yorkers using state resources to fund the program. For many New Yorkers, the funds were distributed later than their usual release date. Many recipients were down to a mere few cents left in their SNAP EBT account for days before Hochul announced the emergency release of funds.
The government shutdown might have been the final nail in the coffin for SNAP, but the program had already taken a massive hit with the passing of H.R.1 this past July. The bill cut 186 billion dollars from SNAP funding through 2034, resulting in changes to the program and stricter eligibility requirements. Work requirements for older adults, veterans, the unhoused, and those who recently aged out of foster care will be more rigorous, tens of thousands of legal immigrants will lose access to the program as it will be more strictly limited to U.S. citizens, and State governments will be taking on significantly more of the funding responsibility for the program.
Late in the evening on November 12, President Trump signed a bill passed by Congress to fund the government through January 30, effectively ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The bill funds SNAP benefits through September 2026. After weeks of worry and uncertainty, November SNAP benefits are finally being dispersed in full. The reinstatement of funding for SNAP is a relief to millions of Americans, but as new eligibility requirements begin to go into effect as a result of H.R.1, millions of recipients may be at risk of losing SNAP benefits for good.
How FLACRA can help
Since 1973, FLACRA has been a reliable referral resource for our clients and their loved ones to external community resources. Throughout 2024 & 2025 FLACRA engaged more than 8,500 individuals with our services and introduced many of them to a myriad of invaluable organizations throughout the 11 counties in the upstate New York region that our organization serves. As many of our clients and community members currently rely on the help of SNAP benefits to be able to afford their groceries, we plan to continue being a bridge to connect those in need with local resources ready to make food accessible to all who require it.
After witnessing firsthand the devastating effects the pause on SNAP benefits had on their clients, employees at our Newark Outpatient Clinic secured 50 food boxes from the Wayne County Action Program, Inc. to deliver to clients and community members in need of food assistance. Each box contained daily supplemental items, a variety of fresh vegetables, and packs of frozen chicken. Their generosity didn’t end there - for recipients who were unable to pick up their food boxes themselves, members of the Newark team volunteered to personally deliver their boxes to them, ensuring that every recipient received nutritious and delicious food.
Hunger and food insecurity is not just a problem we hear about on the nightly news or read of in books about places far away. It affects our neighbors, our friends, and many in our community. Since its inception, SNAP benefits have significantly helped alleviate poverty across the U.S. and have improved the lives of millions of Americans and their families exponentially. The government shutdown was just the tip of the iceberg for many current SNAP recipients. As the changes and cuts in funding for SNAP sanctioned in the “Big Beautiful Bill” begin to take effect, millions of Americans will lose access to SNAP benefits, and their food security will be threatened. Now, more than ever, FLACRA promises to always be a beacon for hope and connection in our community. Together, we will provide help to those in need whenever and however we can.
For those experiencing food insecurity or in need of food assistance please see the PDFs below for more information about food pantries in your county. You may also wish to check out Foodlink’s food locator. Just enter your address or zip code and you will be able to find community meal programs, food pantries, curbside markets, and other food assistance services available in your area. See buttons below for each county's local food pantries.
As our community continues to navigate the challenges brought on by recent SNAP changes, one thing remains certain: no one should have to face hunger alone. At FLACRA, we are committed to walking beside individuals and families with compassion, dignity, and unwavering support. By strengthening community partnerships, listening to every voice, and connecting people with the resources they deserve, we help ensure that hope remains within reach. Together, we can uplift one another, create meaningful change, and build a healthier, more connected future for all who call the Finger Lakes region home.
