Even worse 33% of children in Central Florida will not even qualify to eat on the food stamp budget outlined in the SNAP program below!
SNAP Challenge: Eating on a Food Stamp Budget – MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.
We saw this wonderful challenge provided by Mazon (an International Hunger Effort). With a few modifications below, we thought it might be fun to do this locally in response to our HUNGER Doesn’t Take a Summer Break fundraising appeal. Are you up for the challenge?
ONE WEEK (More if you want!)
The rules for the SNAP Challenge? Can you do this?
- Each person can spend a total of $31.50 on food and beverages during the Challenge week. This budget translates to $4.50 per day, or $1.50 per meal.
- Keep all receipts and track all your food and beverage spending. Any food or beverages purchased and eaten during the Challenge week must be accounted for in your budget. For the purposes of this Challenge, you must include in your budget any amount you spend dining out.
- During the Challenge, eat only food that you purchase specifically for the Challenge. Do not eat food that you already have in your pantry or refrigerator (excluding spices and condiments).
What can you buy with SNAP?
YES:
- Food for the household to eat
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats, fish and poultry
- Dairy products
- Seeds and plants which produce food
NO:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
- Nonfood items
- Pet foods
- Household supplies (soap, paper products, etc.)
- Vitamins and medicines
- Hot (prepared) food
What to do during and after the SNAP Challenge:
- Share your personal experiences through social media, blog posts, op-eds to your local newspaper, or letters to your policymakers in Washington D.C. Be sure to share your thoughts with JFSOrlando as well. Tag us on Facebook (@jfsorlando) or Twitter (@jfsorlando #SNAP4aWeek) or email us.
- Donate to http://www.jfsorlando.org : your local nonprofit response to hunger, the additional amount you would have spent on food this week (or any amount you feel is appropriate).
- Remember this experience when you cast your ballot this Fall. Learn about food insecurity in your community, then ask your candidate(s) where they stand on food insecurity issues.
Mazon International devised this SNAP Challenge, this might be a fun local effort!
