Government Shutdown: Reflections from a Food Stamps Kid

Julianna Concepcion | Opinion Writer

As we enter the fifth week of the U.S. government shutdown, Americans have been given the devastating news that people will not be receiving their SNAP benefits if the shutdown continues into November. While the USDA has funds allocated for emergencies like these, the government has determined that they will not be using these funds for Americans who make use of their food stamps—instead, the shutdown will continue.  

SNAP benefits are utilized by millions of people nationwide. As a child who grew up needing these benefits, it is hard not to think of the stress that others who rely on it might be going through. There were times when my mother could hardly afford presents during Christmas, or a boatload of presents for me and my sister’s birthdays. But, because of our benefits, she could promise that we would be fed our favorite foods on each special occasion.  

I remember one year on my birthday, I think I was turning nine or ten, when things were especially bad, my mom made me a chocolate raspberry birthday cake. She made rice and beans, some fried porkchops (I know people have a stigma against porkchops but try the Puerto Rican version—you'd be amazed), and invited my cousins and aunt over. That was one of the best birthday’s I’d ever had—I don’t even know if I got a present that year, all I know is that my mother, who many may perceive as a Welfare Queen, was over the stove for hours before I got home from school. She even apologized for not getting me more, but I insisted that the dinner and cake were enough.  

If we couldn’t eat, we could also go to our family member’s houses and be served good food. We relied on community when times were tough, which is why I’m advocating for the same right now. It is difficult to not want to point fingers at the Democrats and Republicans for these problems, but since it now seems that we as citizens have no say in what goes on in our country, let’s try to make use of our other benefits and our community to make life a little better. Since we can’t depend on our government, we need to try our best to donate to local food pantries, give money to local charities, and be kind to the people around you. One thing that I have stated profusely in my articles is that America is no longer a Red vs. Blue nation, but has now become an Up vs. Down nation without us even realizing it.