SNAP Benefits — shame and hope
On Saturday, I was at Christ the King’s Food Pantry, welcoming our neighbors who needed food due to the federal government’s failure to pay SNAP benefits. It was an emotional experience, filling me with shame, anger, joy and hope.
Shame and anger: The federal government (to be politically neutral) should be ashamed. As as a financially rich country, our neighbors should be getting their SNAP food benefits even during the shutdown. Our neighbors are not political pawns.
As folks came in, I wanted them to feel comfortable, know we cared and were with them. They were our working folks, our veterans, our elderly and our community. They were gracious and thankful. The people came alone, with spouses and with their kids. They are us, we are them.
Shame on our country. We should be angry at how our federal government is treating our neighbors.
Joy and hope: Our SNAP neighbors are good people. I heard about their work, their families and their appreciation. This gave me joy and hope. As I looked toward our new pantry and the volunteers, I felt joy and hope that other people were present, accompanying our neighbors.
Thanks to the State of New Hampshire (Governor Ayotte, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Legislature and the Executive Council). They quickly allocated $2 million to buy food via our great partner at the New Hampshire Food Bank.
Come on everyone, we can and must do better as a country.