2025 has been a hard year for many people, so much has happened and many people are struggling financially. The holiday season is especially straining due to the costs of food for thanksgiving, presents for christmas, and clothing to keep us warm during winter. Due to the recent government shutdown, SNAP benefits are being severely cut. This is detrimental for many families. Families with children, disabled individuals, college students, and so many more will struggle to be able to eat. 

Donald Trump has posted via Truth Social that SNAP benefits will not be restored until the “Radical Left Democrats open up government and not before.” According to the USDA, 41.6 million Americans receive food stamps. No matter what side you are on, the vast majority of people should agree that everyone deserves food. Every day the government is shut down is another day that people will go hungry. 

This affects everyone! Not just the people that utilize SNAP, everyone! If someone who gets food stamps can no longer spend them at a grocery store, the grocery store will lose profits and the economy will go down. Businesses may even start raising prices to make up for people not being able to buy their products. Everyone has something to lose. 

With so much uncertainty around us, it would be a great help to donate to any local food banks. Name calling and blaming each other will get us nowhere. In a government shutdown, no one wins.