Why Does SNAP Matter?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the biggest and most important nutrition assistance program in the US. Between July 2022 and June 2023 in Washington, an average of over 924,000 people received Basic Food benefits each month. (1) Basic Food is the name in Washington for SNAP and the state’s Food Assistance Program, which provides equivalent benefits to legal immigrants. In total, the benefits received by these households amounted to over $2.6 billion. (1)
SNAP is the nation’s best defense against food insecurity, and is also more flexible than many other types of food assistance. By providing benefits through an EBT card that can be used at tens of thousands of different stores across the country as well as farmers markets and online retailers, it can be used to purchase culturally-relevant foods for many different communities. Other nutrition programs often have a much more limited selection of foods, which often aren’t relevant for many households. SNAP is also funded by the federal government, so it can also help bring money into local economies and communities. For every $1 provided in SNAP benefits, over $1.70 is gained by the economy. (2)
Food pantries do amazing work in Washington and across the country, but those who run pantries know that budgets are often limited and it is hard to provide all the services a community needs. The difference in reach and budget between local pantries and the federal government means that for every meal provided by Feeding America, the largest anti-hunger organization in the US with over 200 partnering food banks, SNAP provides 9 meals. (3) Promoting SNAP as the first line of defense against hunger can help feed more people and take pressure off of the strained resources of food pantries.
SNAP participation can also provide benefits beyond the dollar value on the card, such as qualifying families for extra resources like free school meals, discount utilities, internet, and public transportation, and free museum tickets. Despite the many benefits of SNAP, many eligible people don’t make use of the program. In Washington in 2023, it is estimated that only 54% of people who are income-eligible for SNAP received Basic Food benefits. (1) Participation is even lower for some groups, such as students and older adults.
We seek to change that, by promoting SNAP to people who could benefit from it across the state. Join us in this effort by participating in the 2025 Washington SNAP Challenge, coming January 2025!