Snap Crackle Pop
Behind every policy cut is an empty fridge, a longer food pantry line, and a struggling neighbor.
Remember the Snap, Crackle Pop Jingle?
SNAP Crackle POP
Behind every policy cut is an empty fridge, a longer food pantry line, and a struggling neighbor.
Are you old enough to remember the Snap, Crackle, Pop jingle for Rice Krispies?
Today, that tune doesn’t make me think of breakfast cereal — it makes me think of hunger.
The Calls No Legislator Wants to Receive
I received a call from an 84-year-old constituent who said, “I feel like they are trying to euthanize us.” Her words chilled me. She and her husband, both in fragile health, had hoped that federal programs could offer a bit of support — but instead, they feel forgotten.
My colleague, Rep. David Paige of Conway, told me about a neighbor who was skipping meals so she could afford baby formula for her infant. These are not isolated stories. They represent a growing crisis in our state.
The Numbers Behind the Need
In New Hampshire, roughly 76,000 people depend on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The program — formerly known as food stamps — supports seniors, single parents, and low-wage earners earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level:
$31,300 for an individual
$64,300 for a family of four
(Source: New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute)
The greatest need lies in our more rural areas, including the North Country — the communities I represent.
Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity. When benefits are reduced, grocery stores, local shops, and even their employees feel the pinch. If benefits were halted for just one month, New Hampshire would lose roughly $9.4 million in grocery spending — and $14.4 million in related economic activity.
(Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2025)
A Patchwork Fix
Federal officials have confirmed that only about half of the usual SNAP benefits will be issued for November, using contingency funds during the government shutdown.
New Hampshire has stepped up with a $2 million fund to support those most affected, partnering with the New Hampshire Food Bank to distribute aid statewide. It’s a meaningful gesture — but it won’t come close to meeting the full need. It’s a temporary patch on a widening hole.
A Failing Federal Response
New Hampshire’s newspapers are now filled with lists of food pantry locations and donation drives. Granite Staters are doing what we’ve always done — stepping up to help our neighbors.
But let’s be honest: we shouldn’t have to rely on charity to replace failed federal policy. I’m disgusted by a government willing to turn its back on people in need.
To our leaders in Washington: get back in your seats and end this shutdown.
Americans are tired of finger-pointing. We don’t care who’s to blame — we just want our government to work again.
How You Can Help
If you can, please consider donating to the New Hampshire Food Bank, which supplies food to pantries across the state:
🔹 Find Food or Donate Here
Many local pantries, like the Vaughan Center in Conway, tell me that monetary donations make the biggest difference. They can buy directly from the NH Food Bank and purchase exactly what’s needed.
A Final Word
When SNAP benefits are cut, the ripple effect touches everyone — from the family skipping dinner to the grocery clerk facing reduced hours. Hunger shouldn’t be a partisan issue.
New Hampshire has always prided itself on neighbor helping neighbor. Let’s live up to that tradition — while demanding that Washington do the same.
Resources:
https://nhfpi.org/blog/up-to-76000-granite-staters-particularly-in-rural-areas-face-food-assistance-disruptions-amid-federal-shutdown/
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-is-snap-and-why-does-it-matter
https://www.nhpr.org/national/2025-11-03/snap-benefits-will-restart-but-will-be-half-the-normal-payment-and-delayed
https://indepthnh.org/2025/11/01/rural-areas-likely-to-feel-heavier-impact-from-snap-pause/