The list of infuriating things this administration has done in office is quite extensive for me. But I am really enraged with the decision to spend $300 million on a gaudy ballroom when many American families risk losing or having delayed access to SNAP benefits (and yes, I understand donations are funding the renovation, but if you can’t see how that is so much worse, you might want to stop reading). The juxtaposition of the luxury institutional project with cuts to hunger assistance is giving strong let-them-eat-cake vibes.
No matter what side of the political divide you’re on, I think we can all agree that no one should go hungry.
What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as “food stamps”) is the largest federal nutrition assistance initiative in the United States. Administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP provides electronic benefits each month to low-income individuals and families to help them purchase groceries. It is a cornerstone of the social safety net, designed to reduce hunger, support health, and stimulate local economies.
The community loses when families are unstable.
At its core, SNAP works by providing an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card (similar to a debit card) that can be used at most grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and food retailers. The amount a household receives depends on income, expenses, and family size. In 2024, the average benefit per person was around $200 per month, enough to cover a modest but vital share of food costs. More than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP at any given time, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working adults whose wages are too low to meet basic living expenses.
The USDA has approximately $5 billion in contingency funds, but the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) requires about $9 billion to cover November benefits. Without additional funding, 42 million Americans risk losing their food assistance.
How is SNAP used locally?
According to the data site Datahood for 2019–2023 in Clark County, about 12% of local households received SNAP benefits. Within that set, almost half had households with children and teens, and 34% of those households included people aged 60 or older.
Imagine a local family of four in Winchester: one parent works part-time, the other cannot work due to a health issue, rent is modest, but utilities are high, and the grocery store is a drive away. With SNAP, they have just enough food security that the children aren’t going hungry, they can focus on school and work, and they’re less stressed. If SNAP were removed, that family might skip meals, send children to bed hungry, be forced to choose cheaper and less nutritious food, or rely entirely on emergency food assistance.
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The community loses when families are unstable.
Therefore, defending SNAP isn’t just about helping poor people, but about supporting our neighbors, maintaining community health, and upholding a system that prevents hunger before it becomes a crisis. In Winchester and Clark County, where rural challenges intersect with economic strain, the loss of SNAP would reverberate widely.
How can we help?
There are numerous ways to subsidize food insecurity in our town. But I vote to directly support Clark County Community Services (CCCS). CCCS provides food, clothing, housing, and utility assistance for local families in crisis. The existence of CCCS shows that our community has already recognized food and housing needs. CCCS programs are meant to supplement SNAP, not completely replace it. SNAP addresses the food-purchasing side directly, while CCCS helps fill broader gaps. This means that, with a reduction in SNAP funding, the burden on CCCS will almost certainly increase dramatically, as more households will need more food boxes and immediate crisis assistance.
Find out how to donate or volunteer at https://www.clarkcountycommunityservices.org/
Through January 1, bring in 3 items from the list and get your yoga class free. Our collective well-being is intertwined. No one thrives alone. Caring for others is how we sustain life, meaning, and hope in a fragile world.
