SNAP – Putting Healthy Food Within Reach
The floods, fires and hurricanes that have
blanketed our country this year remind me of what is so great about our
Nation: the compassion America demonstrates for our friends and neighbors in
times of need. The most recent and poignant example is the response of
Federal, State and local officials working in partnership with faith and
community-based organizations, volunteers and individual citizens to provide
food and other vital services following the devastation of Hurricanes Gustav
and Ike.
These acts of generosity are not reserved
for response to natural disasters. For the past 30 years, USDA’s Food Stamp
Program has assisted Americans purchase food for their families during
periods of economic hardship. Did you know that each month over 28 million
people living in America receive supplemental assistance to maximize their
food dollars and learn about the benefits of a healthy diet?
Since its inception, the Food Stamp
Program has lifted people to healthier lifestyles by providing nutrition
assistance with pride, dignity, and respect. Participants reflect the
landscape of our diverse Nation: children (who represent over half of all
beneficiaries), the elderly, working families, legal immigrants, perhaps
even you. On average, individuals and families enroll for nine months – a
time to rebuild their lives and achieve self-sufficiency.
Effective October 1, this critical program
is known as SNAP – short for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SNAP reflects a modern nutrition assistance program that delivers benefits
electronically, reducing the stigma of participation and achieving payment
accuracy that assures the highest level of program integrity. The pillar of
SNAP is nutrition – with a focus on fostering healthy lifestyles through
eating right and physical activity.
No one in America should go hungry and all
Americans should have access to a healthful diet. The cornerstone of
America’s nutrition safety net, SNAP can supplement the food budgets of
qualified households. Simply put, SNAP puts healthy foods within reach.
In this period of rising household costs
and economic uncertainty, I am proud that our generous Nation makes
nutrition assistance available to families in their time of need. Together
with our partners at the State and community level, SNAP makes it possible
for qualified households to buy the food they need for good health, and
helps many make the transition to self-sufficiency.
Nancy Montanez Johner
USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
United States Department of Agriculture
Washington, DC
