Local Food Shelves Fret Over Federal Funding Cuts
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program helps low-income families supplement their grocery budget—but local hunger relief leaders say the program is about to see a significant funding cut.
Leaders from Second Harvest Heartland, The Food Group and ICA Food Shelf spoke about SNAP at a news conference in Brooklyn Park on Monday afternoon.
Those leaders, alongside Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minnesota), held the conference to raise awareness of how it could affect Minnesotans.
Morrison represents Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.
She said the recently-passed “Big Beautiful Bill” is the reason for those SNAP cuts.
It raises the maximum age required to fulfill work requirements, and adds restrictions to noncitizens’ eligibility for the programs.
Morrison said that’s concerning.
“They are cutting SNAP, canceling $1 billion in food assistance aid, and driving the cost of groceries up,” Morrison said. “Making it harder for Americans to get by, and harder for food assistance programs to make sure nobody falls through the cracks.”
Morrison asked her Republican colleagues to shift priorities in favor of these programs. She also asks her fellow democrats to communicate these concerns with their constituents.
Morrison helps pack apples at Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park.
Sophia Lenarz-Coy, executive director of The Food Group, said that in current conditions, SNAP benefits cover nine meals for every one provided by a food shelf.
Meanwhile, Mesa Siebert, SNAP Outreach Program Manager for Second Harvest, told media this affects many people within the state.
“Currently, 450,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP each month to purchase food. But SNAP dollars don’t even cover the full cost of a full month’s dietary needs. The One Big Bill will worsen this gap,” Siebert said.
She said there is not enough food at food banks will make up for those gaps, and expenses could be shifted to Minnesotans.
Mesa Siebert, of Second Harvest Heartland, shares concerns about SNAP with reporters.
