Food Assistance Match (FAM) is alarmed by the proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would devastate families navigating food insecurity, especially in communities like ours.
SNAP is among the most effective tools to reduce hunger, improve health and stimulate the economy. As a nonprofit that matches SNAP benefits dollar-for-dollar at local farmers markets, FAM sees firsthand how SNAP stretches limited budgets, supports small farmers, provides access to fresh food and unlocks private funds to maximize its impact.
As a physician, I know the science is clear: Low-income families would need to spend up to 70% of their monthly food budget on produce to follow federal nutrition guidelines, which becomes unthinkable without SNAP or matches that organizations like FAM provide.
Food insecurity is deadly: Food-insecure individuals face a 50% higher risk of dying from any cause over 10 years; that means cutting SNAP is dangerous.
In 2024, FAM matched $119,000 in food assistance, providing healthy food to over 2,400 individuals and expanding the benefits of federal dollars. Proposed cuts would dramatically worsen the food insecurity of 160,000 people in Allegheny County.
We urge Congress to reject these painful reductions and invest in healthier communities.
Dr. Mallory Ciuksza
Bellevue