In Grand Rapids, Rep. Scholten Stands With Food Bank Leaders As SNAP Benefits Set to Lapse

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -Today, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten stood at Community Food Bank in Grand Rapids to discuss the looming lapse in Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown and the consequences for low-income Michiganders.

Representative Scholten was joined by State Representative Kristian Grant, Executive Director of Community Food Club AJ Fossel, Executive Director of North Kent Connect Adrienne Goodstal, and Executive Director of The Other Way Ministries Scott Bloem.

"No West Michigan family should go hungry because Washington can't do its job," said Congresswoman Scholten. "Parents, seniors, people with disabilities - all these people and more rely on SNAP to put food on the table. I am grateful for the tireless work of our food banks and pantries here in West Michigan, but they cannot replace SNAP. The USDA has the ability to tap into the SNAP contingency fund to issue benefits to SNAP recipients. It must do so immediately."

"We're approaching November - a month centered around a shared meal in Thanksgiving - knowing that soon, food benefits for 1.4 million Michiganders will be jeopardized thanks to a manufactured political crisis," said Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). "Federal Republicans who hold the White House and both chambers of Congress have decided it's ok for kids, veterans, people with disabilities, and their families to go without access to the food support they rely on. While they continue their campaign to actively harm those struggling the most while cutting deals for their billionaire friends, Democrats at every level will keep fighting to hold the line. But I want to be clear - the longer the shutdown continues, the graver and more insurmountable the consequences become."

"SNAP remains one of the strongest and most reliable ways to combat hunger and insecurity for our families," said state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids)."This is not a handout for freeloaders- it is a necessary safety for hard working families, seniors, veterans, and disabled members of our community. A suspension would leave them with no way to get by. This situation cannot continue. President Trump must act to safeguard this program before families are pushed into further hunger and hardship."

"For every one meal that charitable food provides, SNAP benefits provide 9. There is no charitable substitute and philanthropy cannot replace government benefits. If you are able, please consider donating to charitable food organizations like the Community Food Club or your local food pantry. We are in need of extra funding to support people through this challenging time and feed as many people as we possibly can," said AJ Fossel, Executive Director of Community Food Club.

"We have been experiencing a large increase in need for food assistance over the last several years already. Pausing all SNAP benefits from people at this moment, removing hundreds of dollars of monthly food benefits from families who have no safety net, is madness, and it will drive millions of people to the point of desperation," said Scott Bloem, Executive Director of The Other Way Ministries.

On October 23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which operates SNAP, directed Michigan officials to pause issuing November SNAP payments until further notice. Approximately 13 percent of Michigan households, or 1.4 million people, receive SNAP. Almost half of SNAP recipients in Michigan are families with children, and nearly 40 percent are families with older adults or individuals with disabilities. If SNAP benefits are not issued, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will go hungry. Rep. Scholten is calling on the USDA to swiftly tap into its contingency fund to ensure that SNAP benefits go out to Michiganders in need.

###