Act Now to Secure SNAP Benefits for Thousands of Union County Children

I am writing as a concerned resident of Union County and a voter in your district to urge you to prioritize and appropriate the $434 million that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) requires to maintain our state's full participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to NCDHHS, in Union County alone, over 14,000 individuals currently rely on SNAP benefits, including approximately 5,700 to 6,400 children who depend on this program to access nutritious food. Across North Carolina, more than 1.4 million people participate in SNAP, with children constituting over 40% of beneficiaries statewide. (See https://www.ncdhhs.gov/snap-enrollment-april-2025/open for details.) I support the Union County Loaves to Fishes and other local food banks but they cannot handle this need alone; state-level funding is critical to ensure that no child in our community goes hungry. SNAP not only addresses immediate food insecurity but also supports children’s health, development, and educational outcomes. Cutting SNAP funding would place undue hardship on vulnerable families who already face economic challenges and would increase reliancede on emergency food programs. Appropriating these funds is essential to uphold the nutritional well-being of our children and families in Union County and throughout North Carolina. I urge you to work to appropriate these funds and not pass the buck down to the county level. I look forward to your leadership on this vital issue. I urge you to ensure that the necessary funds are allocated in the upcoming budget to keep North Carolina participating fully in SNAP.