Emergency SNAP Benefits End
New Mexico food pantries face a new challenge as the emergency SNAP benefits provided by the federal government come to an end. In 2020, these benefits were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing families with a maximum of $750 per month to spend on food items. However, with the end of the emergency allotments, families of three are now returning to receiving $335 per month, leading to an increase in demand for food pantries like Casa De Peregrinos.
Casa De Peregrinos is an organization that aims to ensure that less-fortunate individuals in the community don’t go hungry due to a lack of resources. Lorenzo Alba Jr, the executive director, stated that the end of pandemic assistance under the SNAP food program has led to an influx of people looking for help at the food pantry.
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The high cost of food and inflation has further worsened the issue, causing more people to show up at food pantries, even in rural areas. According to a published article in KRWG, nearly 40% of the people served by Casa de Peregrinos are children, and another 20% are seniors. Unfortunately, the loss of emergency SNAP benefits has left many community members uncertain about the future.
While the Las Cruces Food Pantry has already felt the impact of losing the extra SNAP benefits, Alba expects a continuing influx of individuals in need throughout the summer and beyond. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, between 2019 and 2021, an average of 11.5% of New Mexico households were food insecure, compared to the national average of 10.4%. As such, food pantries like Casa De Peregrinos are essential to feeding families and ensuring that community members don’t go hungry.
In conclusion, the New Mexico food pantries struggle as emergency SNAP benefits end, leaving families in need of nutritional assistance. Food pantries like Casa De Peregrinos play a crucial role in ensuring that community members don’t go hungry due to a lack of resources. With the high costs of food and inflation, more people are showing up at food pantries, making it essential to support these organizations. The loss of emergency SNAP benefits has left many community members uncertain about the future, and it’s essential to provide them with support and assistance during these challenging times.
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