As families convene for the holidays and people stress over what their more eccentric relatives might decide to say at the dinner table, others worry about how their budget can make this holiday season cheerful for the whole family.
Enter the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. The government-funded food assistance program, which is dedicated to alleviating some of the financial stress of the holidays for families in need, has also committed to helping families get out of the house and partake in holiday festivities throughout Boston.
In addition to the food purchasing power that SNAP beneficiaries are given through the program, benefits include things that aren’t food-centric, like museum admission and discounted American Repertory Theatre or concert tickets.
“I think at the core of it SNAP is a very necessary program. For me, [SNAP] has been lifesaving, to be honest,” said Kelly, a 45-year-old mother living on Beacon Hill. “I live on a fixed income; I have lived on a fixed income for quite some time and so anything that helps is welcome. Without SNAP, I don’t know how I would feed my family.”
Kelly has two daughters, a 13-year-old BPS student and a 21-year-old full-time college student, who she cares for in addition to her partner. She described the extracurricular benefits that SNAP beneficiaries can utilize as amazing, with her and her daughters frequently taking advantage of the discounted rates.
“I am incredibly grateful for the additional offerings that come with the SNAP card. It gives me the opportunity to expose my kids to all kinds of things that would be outside my reach without it. Cultural events and arts events and STEM things that just really broaden my children’s perspective and really broaden the possibilities that they dream about.”
Because of the unseasonable warmth, Kelly and her daughters have been spending as much time outside as possible. But, as the winter weather slowly approaches, she is grateful for SNAP’s commitment to providing access to engaging and memorable experiences through their program.
“We go to the Children’s Museum, the Science Museum, the ICA, the Aquarium, even as far as the Ecotarium out near Worcester,” said Kelly. “We’ve definitely had a great time utilizing the museum benefits. I was super excited to hear that there are going to be theater discounts as well this holiday season because it’s just not something that my family has access to financially, you know, it’s just not in the budget.”
This year, SNAP is extending its member privileges to be able to utilize the benefits for tickets to the Boston Ballet, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and other local havens for artistic and cultural expression throughout the city.
In addition to activities, SNAP beneficiaries can also use their benefits to save money on household bills, like gas, electricity and other utilities, as well as transportation, as SNAP beneficiaries who are between 12-25 years old can potentially use their SNAP benefits for MBTA Youth Passes.
“Sometimes people view the arts and extracurricular things as a privilege, and I believe that some of these things should be [a] right. We should all have a right to knowledge. We should all have the right to enrichment, you know, we should all have the right to dream bigger … and see things that make our eyes go wide with wonder, you know, especially kids.”
Khara Shearrion, senior director of SNAP Outreach Programs at Project Bread, acknowledged SNAP’s impact, especially during the holiday season.
“Having to juggle things like rent and utility costs, having the SNAP program really does give families more options available in terms of kind of freeing up some of their finances,” she said.
SNAP’s commitment to a well-rounded holiday season is both internal and external. SNAP rewards programs like the HIP Program, or Healthy Incentive Program, incentivize beneficiaries to use their benefits towards healthy fresh produce. In return, they receive additional funds to cover the costs.
Shearrion also noted the qualifiers for SNAP are such that almost anyone with legitimate needs can qualify. And, as inflation continues to rise in Massachusetts, SNAP has encroached on Massachusetts residents expeditiously as one in four households are reportedly using SNAP benefits on some level.
“SNAP is the fastest and most efficient resource that we have that provides people with money to purchase food,” said Shearrion. “Unlike food banks, SNAP does not rely on charitable donations, so it is a sustainable solution to help people afford enough to eat. Anyone who is eligible for SNAP benefits will receive them. There is no limit to how many folks can utilize for the program; therefore, you do not take away from others by enrolling.”
Families like Kelly’s can gear up for this holiday season with joy in their hearts as SNAP continues to ensure the beneficiaries of their services and resources are able to take full advantage of the cold-weather fun that comes with this time of year. With the stress of financial feasibility quelled by discounted rates and covered costs, all Massachusetts residents will have the opportunity to share in yuletide cheer this holiday season.
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