Leaf&Core

Where to Find Food Without SNAP

Danielle from Leaf and Core
Reading Time: 4 minutes.
Screenshot of Feeding America's website

screenshot via Feeding America

Republicans, who control the house, senate, executive branch, and, arguably, the head of the judicial branch, the Supreme Court, are refusing to negotiate with Democrats to end what will likely be the longest government shutdown in American history. The first longest was also caused by Donald Trump. A shuttered government makes people desperate, and desperate people are easier to control. It’s why Americans must rely on their employers for health insurance, and it’s why Trump is ready to starve Americans to get his way with an unprecedented shutdown of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. America has never turned its back on those needing food assistance, as SNAP has never been shut down in its 86 years of existence. But we have an unprecedented president. Starvation is just another bargaining tool of American politics now.

The emergency funding for SNAP is already allocated and can’t be used for anything else; Trump’s party just wants to use starving Americans as a bargaining tool. Not that there’s much bargaining going on. Democrats need to either force people to go hungry this month or sacrifice the Affordable Care Act subsidizes, which make health insurance slightly more affordable for people without income or with low income. I myself have had to use those very same subsidies when furloughed before.

And before your misinformed relatives butt in, no, the Democrats can’t take providing those subsidies to undocumented immigrants, because it was never a part of any law or proposal that they could. That’s a complete falsehood Republicans made up so they could justify making healthcare more expensive for nearly all Americans. Because if the young people who need the ACA drop out, all plans will become more expensive.

The government shutdown does a few things for Republicans. It will likely cause unrest as people need to choose between starvation and theft, which manufactures the false problem they need to invade towns and cities with more troops. Regimes often use starvation as a weapon and excuse to militarize police, it’s the easiest path to becoming a complete police state. Secondly, it’s allowed them to blame the shutdown on Democrats, who have only one thing they can sacrifice: your healthcare. The healthcare for undocumented immigrants isn’t even on the table. Finally, starvation can give Republicans absolute control. They don’t need to negotiate. They don’t need to listen to voters. They can hold starving people hostage, why bother with democracy when you have that kind of power?

The shutdown also gives them a fake but plausible-sounding excuse for not swearing in Adelita Grijalva, who could force congress to finally release the Epstein files. Due to Trump’s close ties with Epstein, it’s believed these files could implicate him, and Republicans would rather defend those pedophiles than let dear leader look bad.

All of this to say, we’re heading towards a starvation situation for millions of Americans in November. Children make up about 39% of SNAP recipients. Retired adults 60 years old or older make up about 20% of recipients. Less than half are of working age. Inflation is up, hiring is faltering, and even those who want to work can’t, with unemployment rising to a 4-year high.

If you rely on SNAP benefits, your situation is looking bleak. Trump took away your benefits, ruined the economy, and left you little but to steal, right?

Well, fortunately, not all Americans are like Republicans. Here’s how you can find food this November, and, if you’re able, here is how you can find local mutual aid organizations to support. Together, we may have a chance.

Where to Find Food

There are a few mutual aid groups and even state-funded programs that are trying to close the starvation gap Trump and his cohorts have opened. You can both use these resources to find help as well as find places to donate. In my local area, a number of LGBTQ+ groups have also set up food drives at various locations, even bars. Churches, historically, have also been willing to help, but with the shutdown being along party lines, they may be less helpful. Try to seek them out though, not all have forgotten what the book they thump actually says about helping people in need.

Besides those resources, there are organizations that list out resources by location. Give them a look, these might be the best resources for finding help right now.

And if you see someone stealing food, no you didn’t. The government stole these people’s money for Trump’s pathetic bargaining attempt. We paid into these taxes for our neighbors and ourselves in times of need, and the money has been allocated. It’s theft. Trump’s already taken so much from us, so if you see Trump’s victims stealing what they have to in order to survive, no you didn’t. Consider spreading the word about mutual aid networks, donating to them if you have the funds to do so, or consider volunteering with them if you have the time to do so. Pitch in what you can, whether it’s word of mouth, labor, goods, or money. We’re only going to survive these times by working together.

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