Food stamp challenge facts for kids
The Food Stamp Challenge (also called the SNAP Challenge) is a special activity where people try to live on a very small food budget for a set time. This challenge is popular in the United States. People who take part, often politicians, community leaders, or religious groups, choose to buy food using only the amount of money that a family of their size would get from the US government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program is often called "food stamps."
For example, in 2015, the amount was about $194.00 per person each month. That's about $6.37 per day for food. People do this challenge to understand what it's like for families who rely on food assistance. They also want to raise awareness about hunger and poverty.
Contents
Understanding the SNAP Challenge
The SNAP Challenge helps people see how difficult it can be to afford healthy food on a limited budget. It shows the choices families have to make every day. This challenge often highlights the importance of programs like SNAP. It also encourages people to support food banks and other groups that help those in need.
Why People Take the Challenge
Many people take the SNAP Challenge to learn more about food insecurity. Food insecurity means not always knowing where your next meal will come from. By living on a SNAP budget, participants experience some of the difficulties faced by low-income families. This can include planning meals carefully and looking for the cheapest food options.
How the Challenge Works
Participants usually set a time frame, often one week. During this time, they only spend the SNAP equivalent on groceries. They track their spending and often share their experiences. This helps others understand the realities of living on a tight food budget.
History of the SNAP Challenge
The idea of living on a food stamp budget has been around for a while. It gained more attention in the early 2000s. Many different people and groups have taken part to raise awareness.
Early Challenges and Media Attention
In February 2009, a reporter named Sean Callebs from CNN tried the challenge. He lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, and spent about $176 for food that month. He said he ate well enough but missed going out to eat with friends. This showed that the challenge could affect social life as much as diet.
In St. Louis, Missouri, Greg Lukeman started a food stamp challenge in 2008. He is the director of an organization called Food Outreach. He organized the challenge during "Hunger Action Month" in September. This helped bring attention to the people his organization helps. Many community members, politicians, and local media took part. They often wrote about their experiences online.
In October 2010, a new movie called Food Stamped came out. It showed a couple living on a food stamp budget for one week. The movie premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Politicians and Public Figures Join In
In May 2013, Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut took part in a week-long SNAP Challenge. He shared his experiences on Twitter. He tweeted that he was living on $4.80 a day for food. He also mentioned losing 6 pounds in four days.
In June 2013, Donny Ferguson, who worked for a politician named Steve Stockman, also did the challenge. He spent $27.68 over 10 days, more than the usual seven. He argued that people could save money by planning meals and buying vegetables. He also suggested that larger families could save by sharing resources.
In April 2015, actress Gwyneth Paltrow bought $29 worth of food for one week. She posted a picture of her groceries on her Twitter account. These public figures helped bring more attention to the SNAP Challenge.
Images for kids
-
Logo of the SNAP program, popularly known as “food stamps”
See also
- Live Below the Line
