Food insecurity grows with SNAP in limbo

Ashley Gaines knows hard times.

The mother of seven (ages 4-17, including 14-year-old twins) was once homeless.

Sign up for our free newsletters.

Daybreak News
Sent at 6 a.m. daily.

Midday Update
Sent at 11 a.m. daily.

Breaking News
Alerts as news happens.

PM Report
Sent at 4:30 p.m. daily.

Now, she and her kids may be food-less.

With the Trump administration battling court orders to fund SNAP (food stamps) payments this month, Gaines, who was expecting her payment on the 5th, says she’s seen nothing.

“Not half of it, not anything.”

With food stamp payments caught in the government shutdown, Gaines says she checked her EBT card at midnight into the 5th, and discovered no replenishment of the funds.
With such a large family, Gaines says she gets $1,700 in monthly SNAP assistance.

“The schools have been helping as well,” she adds, with free and/or reduced price meals at both District 65 and at ETHS.
She also says the “Evanston community has been a big help,” with Connections for the Homeless finding her and her family an apartment some time ago.

But “this time, I’ve been to every pantry, every event” trying to find enough food.
Her little kids are confused, Gaines says.

“Mom,” the littlest ones ask, “can we go to the store and get some snacks?”

“Sorry,” Gaines answers. “We just can’t right now.”

Gaines is “very nervous” with the holidays coming up, as she waits for the release of at least some SNAP funding.
But she doesn’t think that the leaders in Washington, DC are paying attention.

“They do not care,” Gaines says.

“They’re rich. They don’t have to worry about food stamps. I just feel like with seven kids it’s going to be hard. How are we going to survive? Food is already expensive.”

If you’re interested in helping respond to the food insecurity crisis…
Indivisible Evanston and Connections for the Homeless are sponsoring a food drive from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday at the Connections office at 2121 Dewey Ave., with advance drop off available at 2744 Eastwood Ave. before noon on Monday.
For more information contact Candace Davis at 224-420-0102.

The mother of seven (ages 4-17, including 14-year-old twins) was once homeless.

Sign up for our free newsletters.

Daybreak News
Sent at 6 a.m. daily.

Midday Update
Sent at 11 a.m. daily.

Breaking News
Alerts as news happens.

PM Report
Sent at 4:30 p.m. daily.

Now, she and her kids may be food-less.

With the Trump administration battling court orders to fund SNAP (food stamps) payments this month, Gaines, who was expecting her payment on the 5th, says she’s seen nothing.

“Not half of it, not anything.”

But “this time, I’ve been to every pantry, every event” trying to find enough food.
Her little kids are confused, Gaines says.

“Mom,” the littlest ones ask, “can we go to the store and get some snacks?”

“Sorry,” Gaines answers. “We just can’t right now.”

Gaines is “very nervous” with the holidays coming up, as she waits for the release of at least some SNAP funding.
But she doesn’t think that the leaders in Washington, DC are paying attention.

“They do not care,” Gaines says.

“They’re rich. They don’t have to worry about food stamps. I just feel like with seven kids it’s going to be hard. How are we going to survive? Food is already expensive.”

Now, she and her kids may be food-less.

With the Trump administration battling court orders to fund SNAP (food stamps) payments this month, Gaines, who was expecting her payment on the 5th, says she’s seen nothing.

“Not half of it, not anything.”

But “this time, I’ve been to every pantry, every event” trying to find enough food.
Her little kids are confused, Gaines says.

“Mom,” the littlest ones ask, “can we go to the store and get some snacks?”

“Sorry,” Gaines answers. “We just can’t right now.”

Gaines is “very nervous” with the holidays coming up, as she waits for the release of at least some SNAP funding.
But she doesn’t think that the leaders in Washington, DC are paying attention.

“They do not care,” Gaines says.

“They’re rich. They don’t have to worry about food stamps. I just feel like with seven kids it’s going to be hard. How are we going to survive? Food is already expensive.”

With the Trump administration battling court orders to fund SNAP (food stamps) payments this month, Gaines, who was expecting her payment on the 5th, says she’s seen nothing.

“Not half of it, not anything.”

But “this time, I’ve been to every pantry, every event” trying to find enough food.
Her little kids are confused, Gaines says.

“Mom,” the littlest ones ask, “can we go to the store and get some snacks?”

“Sorry,” Gaines answers. “We just can’t right now.”

Gaines is “very nervous” with the holidays coming up, as she waits for the release of at least some SNAP funding.
But she doesn’t think that the leaders in Washington, DC are paying attention.

“They do not care,” Gaines says.

“They’re rich. They don’t have to worry about food stamps. I just feel like with seven kids it’s going to be hard. How are we going to survive? Food is already expensive.”

With food stamp payments caught in the government shutdown, Gaines says she checked her EBT card at midnight into the 5th, and discovered no replenishment of the funds.

With such a large family, Gaines says she gets $1,700 in monthly SNAP assistance.

But “this time, I’ve been to every pantry, every event” trying to find enough food.
Her little kids are confused, Gaines says.

“Mom,” the littlest ones ask, “can we go to the store and get some snacks?”

“Sorry,” Gaines answers. “We just can’t right now.”

Gaines is “very nervous” with the holidays coming up, as she waits for the release of at least some SNAP funding.
But she doesn’t think that the leaders in Washington, DC are paying attention.

“They do not care,” Gaines says.

“They’re rich. They don’t have to worry about food stamps. I just feel like with seven kids it’s going to be hard. How are we going to survive? Food is already expensive.”

“The schools have been helping as well,” she adds, with free and/or reduced price meals at both District 65 and at ETHS.

She also says the “Evanston community has been a big help,” with Connections for the Homeless finding her and her family an apartment some time ago.