“We know that we have over 40,000 households here in Kent County that are dealing with food insecurity and are receiving some degree of SNAP benefits – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.”
Wende Randall is Executive Director of Kent County Essential Needs Task Force, one of six food assistance groups who came together to discuss potential cuts to SNAP funding within President Donald Trump’s budget, which is currently being reviewed in the U.S. Senate.
“We have over 220 food assistance type of support programs across Kent County, and we still have over 14% of our community members who are dealing with that really significant food insecurity.”
Democratic State Representative John Fitzgerald points out 40% of the state’s $80 billion budget comes from the federal government.
“But if 40% of our state budget went away, we’re dealing with a crisis: in education, in food assistance, in higher education, in transportation, in every aspect of our lives.”
Under the current budget proposal, SNAP-Ed, which provides nutrition education and garden programs in schools, would be cancelled.
