Take the SNAP Challenge During Lent

In the fiscal year of 2022, about 41.2 million people living in 21.6 million U.S. households participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in an average month.  The average SNAP household received a monthly benefit of $297 (average household size is 1.9 people).  Households with children received a larger average monthly benefit ($515) due to their larger average household size.  Ten percent received the minimum benefit ($20), which is only available to households with one or two members. 
 
For many families, the monthly stipend they receive through SNAP is the only money they have for groceries.  The difficulties that low-income households experience when trying to provide a
balanced diet can be compounded by a lack of nearby access to full-service grocery stores, a lack of kitchen appliances included in rental units, time restraints due to working multiple, minimum wage jobs, and/or rising food costs.
 
We ask that you prayerfully consider taking on this challenge:

Spend ONLY the average SNAP benefit amount to feed your family for 1 week, 2 weeks or a month; to experience the challenge of trying to shop, cook and eat within a substantially limited budget.  At the end of the experience, take the difference between your typical weekly budget for food and the amount spent during the experience, then donate it to an organization in our community that is fighting to reduce hunger.
 
Below and in the Justice and Peace display in the church vestibule you’ll find challenge packets with budgets, grocery lists, menus and recipes based on a two or four person household.  The lists and menus encompass a complete, two week period for breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  The lists are based on regular prices at Pick n’ Save, our predominant grocer in the Metro-Milwaukee area.  Please use them as a guide for this challenge.


SNAP Challenge packet for a 2-person household

SNAP Challenge packet for a 4-person household