EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – In case you missed it, last week Opportunity Wisconsin, local organizations, and community leaders held a press conference in Eau Claire ahead of the expiration of SNAP funding for nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites—including 270,000 children—due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Republican lawmakers, including Representatives Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil, forced the government shutdown last month as they refused to prevent skyrocketing healthcare costs.
As the shutdown enters its second month, more families in Wisconsin are being harmed and unable to afford everyday essentials – while Republicans in Congress refuse to take action that would reopen the government.
“Wisconsin families are facing an unprecedented food security crisis while Republicans in Congress play games and refuse to end the crisis they created in the first place,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Representatives Van Orden and Steil need to step up and end this shutdown immediately. Every day they delay, more Wisconsin families go hungry. It’s time for them to do their jobs and restore SNAP funding by reopening the government.”
WEAU: Eau Claire SNAP recipients, local Democratic lawmakers demand end of government shutdown
- The group is demanding Republicans in congress stop cutting food assistance. They claim the GOP made massive cuts to snap to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.
- “If someone comes to me right now, asking me, you know, you’ve dealt with this sort of problem before, where would you go? Well, I can’t tell you right now. I can direct you to the food pantries. But those agencies that I would send somebody to are closing their doors. And it’s scary not to know where to turn.”
- Nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites will be impacted by the suspension in food share, putting more burden on other meal services like the community table and local food banks.
Leader-Telegram: Legislators, Community Table urge SNAP benefits to continue
- State Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Town of Brunswick) noted the state surplus is about $4 billion, and providing SNAP benefits to Wisconsinites who use the federal program would cost Wisconsin about $110 million a month. The Trump administration has already told states that they would not be reimbursed if they pick up the cost of SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
- Ethan Reed of Opportunity Wisconsin was frustrated that the federal government shutdown is about to enter its second month. “The consequences are becoming more dire by the day,” Reed said.
- Several SNAP recipients spoke at the press conference. Julia Bennker operates a child care center out of her home, and she depends on the SNAP benefits to feed the seven children she cares for. She already earns a low income. “It makes me uncertain about my future,” Bennker said. Bennker described how she uses SNAP benefits at farmers markets and gets additional value by using coupons there. “We need high-quality food to be available in the community,” she said.
Up North News: Evers issues state of emergency over Trump cutoff of SNAP food aid to families
- “We used SNAP and WIC—I grew up on those programs.” Isra, of Eau Claire, recalls when he was young—his family was reliant on FoodShare—that’s Wisconsin’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a similar scenario now, where even though he has his own disability and he’s a caretaker for a couple of other family members who have disabilities—he’s utilizing the SNAP program again. It provides him and his family a little reassurance.
- Isra is one of about 700,000 people in Wisconsin who rely on SNAP for food assistance benefits and are at risk of losing the aid if the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and President Donald Trump do not use available funding to continue the program. Of those receiving assistance, 270,000 are children and 108,000 are senior citizens.
- Dan Giguere is on the Community Table Board of Directors, a non-profit group in Eau Claire that serves free meals every day to those who need them. Giguere said more people are turning to the organization to eat.
- “Here at the Community Table we’ve had increased numbers already and we don’t know what to expect in the future,” Giguere said. “I just hope we’ll be able to support those who lose their SNAP benefits.”
