"The only difference is which one they’re taught to feel good about helping." Ugh. Yes.
I was so excited to see you in the NYT again — though I am also so angry that, like you said, your piece needed to be written at all. Thank you for sharing it and continuing to show up in this space with such transparency / compassion / all of it.
Government does things on a scale that local organizations, however well-staffed and well-funded, can’t. That’s why we have roads, schools, scientific research…etc. Making sure that people do not go hungry is a good and necessary use of taxpayer dollars, and a very small piece of the sprawling federal budget.
Thank you for your words. Your appearance on CNN this morning was awesome! It is brave to share your experience and to speak up on this topic, so thank you. I was on SNAP for a while when my child was little and I remember the feeling of shame while applying and using the card. This is a USDA program and I don’t think the public understands that. It is about getting nutritious food to those in need. If that is fresh produce at a farmers market directly from a farmer… even better. As the daughter of an Ag family, farm to table is how we survive through food insecurity in the future, in my opinion. I am currently worried for a young family I know that relies on SNAP to feed two littles. And everyone like them. For Moms that skip meals to make sure their kids eat.
Congratulations, again! I applaud your courage and skills in bringing up this valuable issue. I volunteered for many NGOs over the years, and it resonated with me when you laid out the differences between fundraisers and government assistance programs. Please continue using your voice. It's important.
The NYT piece is one of the best I've ever read about SNAP and farmers markets and judgement and need. I was so happy to find that you're on Substack, this backstory to that Op-Ed is even better. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this - the twisted results of historically off-loading social provisioning to charity (and credit provisioning) instead of building thoughtful and robust social welfare programs. The narrative grew in order to support the withdrawal of the state and now it seems natural to us (Americans, at least) that charity is good and benefits are bad. I guess we should all know not to underestimate the power of storytelling!
The attitude that SNAP shouldn't be used at a farmer's market ASTOUNDS me. People will complain that the poor should buy healthier foods and then complain when they do just that. Ultimately it's not about the SNAP benefits but about people not performing poverty correctly to the person doing the judging.
I’ve been the grateful recipient of SNAP benefits right around the time they started calling them that instead of food stamps. They came in paper booklets, and you had to tear out the little slips a little at a time. I would go to the grocery store my friends didn’t frequent and hope I wouldn’t run into anyone for all the shame of Ronald Reagan’s “welfare queen” archetype. This was a lifeline for my family - it helped me feed my kids for a period of time when we were in a difficult situation. I’ll always be grateful. I was so happy for others when they converted the benefits to debit cards for SNAP recipients.
Thank you for sharing your NY Times article. It is an excellent piece of writing. I love our local farmer’s market. Everyone should have access to quality food. It angers me that you have to justify yourself and others, to explain snap to some people who think that for some reason they should get to eat well while others don’t. It’s absolutely maddening but I also really appreciate you doing it and I hope your article is read by lots of people and some of them leave with more open minds and hearts.
“The difference is control and proximity.” Bingo. Thank you for writing it and for sharing it. I’ll be thinking about it long after reading it!
"The only difference is which one they’re taught to feel good about helping." Ugh. Yes.
I was so excited to see you in the NYT again — though I am also so angry that, like you said, your piece needed to be written at all. Thank you for sharing it and continuing to show up in this space with such transparency / compassion / all of it.
Government does things on a scale that local organizations, however well-staffed and well-funded, can’t. That’s why we have roads, schools, scientific research…etc. Making sure that people do not go hungry is a good and necessary use of taxpayer dollars, and a very small piece of the sprawling federal budget.
Thank you for your words. Your appearance on CNN this morning was awesome! It is brave to share your experience and to speak up on this topic, so thank you. I was on SNAP for a while when my child was little and I remember the feeling of shame while applying and using the card. This is a USDA program and I don’t think the public understands that. It is about getting nutritious food to those in need. If that is fresh produce at a farmers market directly from a farmer… even better. As the daughter of an Ag family, farm to table is how we survive through food insecurity in the future, in my opinion. I am currently worried for a young family I know that relies on SNAP to feed two littles. And everyone like them. For Moms that skip meals to make sure their kids eat.
Congratulations, again! I applaud your courage and skills in bringing up this valuable issue. I volunteered for many NGOs over the years, and it resonated with me when you laid out the differences between fundraisers and government assistance programs. Please continue using your voice. It's important.
The NYT piece is one of the best I've ever read about SNAP and farmers markets and judgement and need. I was so happy to find that you're on Substack, this backstory to that Op-Ed is even better. Thank you.
What a powerful piece! So glad you are sharing this sharp analysis and lived experience.
This is a beautiful article. SNAP renewal passed the House yesterday for the 15th time. I really hope the Senate finally approves the bill.
Thank you for writing this. 💙
Thanks for sharing this - the twisted results of historically off-loading social provisioning to charity (and credit provisioning) instead of building thoughtful and robust social welfare programs. The narrative grew in order to support the withdrawal of the state and now it seems natural to us (Americans, at least) that charity is good and benefits are bad. I guess we should all know not to underestimate the power of storytelling!
The attitude that SNAP shouldn't be used at a farmer's market ASTOUNDS me. People will complain that the poor should buy healthier foods and then complain when they do just that. Ultimately it's not about the SNAP benefits but about people not performing poverty correctly to the person doing the judging.
Double up food bucks were awesome for us when we had SNAP. We were able to access a CSA for the first time because of it!
I’ve been the grateful recipient of SNAP benefits right around the time they started calling them that instead of food stamps. They came in paper booklets, and you had to tear out the little slips a little at a time. I would go to the grocery store my friends didn’t frequent and hope I wouldn’t run into anyone for all the shame of Ronald Reagan’s “welfare queen” archetype. This was a lifeline for my family - it helped me feed my kids for a period of time when we were in a difficult situation. I’ll always be grateful. I was so happy for others when they converted the benefits to debit cards for SNAP recipients.
Elizabeth,
Thank you for sharing your NY Times article. It is an excellent piece of writing. I love our local farmer’s market. Everyone should have access to quality food. It angers me that you have to justify yourself and others, to explain snap to some people who think that for some reason they should get to eat well while others don’t. It’s absolutely maddening but I also really appreciate you doing it and I hope your article is read by lots of people and some of them leave with more open minds and hearts.
Absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for holding onto this piece and finding a time/place. It's such an important framing.