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Kent County emergency food service providers voice concerns over federal cuts to SNAP benefits

Representatives from six community service providers met in Wyoming (Kent County) to discuss potential cuts to emergency food services in the proposed federal budget.
David Limbaugh
Representatives from seven community service providers met in Wyoming (Kent County) to discuss potential cuts to emergency food services in the proposed federal budget.

Representatives from Kent County-based emergency food service organizations met in Wyoming Friday. The proposed federal budget reducing SNAP benefits was the focus. In particular, impacts on food assistance programs and their recipients

“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.

Dave joined WGVU Public Media in November of 2023 after eighteen years as a Michigan Association of Broadcasters Emmy-nominated photojournalist and editor at Grand Rapids' WOOD TV8 and three years at WEYI TV25 in Flint, Michigan. As a General Assignment Reporter, Dave covers daily news and community events all over West Michigan.
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