SNAP-Ed Discontinued: Future of Nutrition Education Uncertain
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) has been discontinued, effective September 30, following the passage of a spending bill. This move has left many states, organisations, and participants, such as 72-year-old Kengsoi Chou Lei, uncertain about the future of their nutrition education programs.
SNAP-Ed, the largest federal nutrition education program, has seen its funding cut by 90% due to a tax-cut and spending bill signed by President Donald Trump. This has led to significant reductions in program schedules, with some states ending their SNAP-Ed programs entirely after September 30. Others are maintaining a reduced schedule using leftover funds.
Leah's Pantry, a San Francisco nonprofit, is one such organisation facing a substantial reduction in its class schedule. The organisation, which hosts weekly dance classes for seniors like Kengsoi Chou Lei, has seen its funding slashed due to the federal cuts. The House Agriculture Committee had previously proposed cutting SNAP-Ed due to coordination and assessment gaps in the USDA's nutrition program. The USDA had spent over $9 billion on SNAP-Ed since 1992, supporting evidence-based efforts that reached over 1.8 million people in 2022.
The elimination of SNAP-Ed funding will impact schools, food banks, and other organisations that relied on the program for nutrition and health programming. With the future of these programs uncertain, many participants, like Kengsoi Chou Lei, are left wondering about the availability of their beloved classes.
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