Instead of writing about the proposed changes to the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents” and how they could impact community college students, I am reprinting the comment which Dr. Jjenna Hupp Andrews submitted concerning this rule. The food locker she started at Mott Community College is similar in spirit to the work I have done at Schoolcraft College to expand the offerings of our Little Free Library to include single serving meals for students and others. If you would like to make your own comment concerning the proposed regulation, please go to the Regulations.gov website.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Comment By Dr. Jjenna Hupp Andrews

SNAP is so important for people living even on an income 2x the poverty line. People need good nutrition and can’t afford it and often live in food deserts.

As a professor at a community college, I keep a food locker for my students to access at any time because they cannot afford both gas and food and how can our students actually learn and succeed when they are trying to figure out when they can next eat and/or feed their kids? Community college students are among the highest demographic with food insecurity. Did you know there is now actually a national organization of colleges and universities with food pantries for their students? This is disgraceful in our rich country. You want our children to succeed in k-12 and higher ed, then FEED THEM! AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GET FOOD! All this talk of fixing our failing education system, a good place to start (in ADDITION to increasing per student funding, and making community college free) is to increase food aid/SNAP for all populations in need.

In regards to the rule changes proposed for SNAP, The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Proposed Rule: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents, I want the victim blaming to stop and the belief that people in poverty are poor because of a personal failing. I want the demonization of the poor and food insecure to stop. I want legislation and rules that not only INCREASE SNAP but also make it EASIER, not harder to receive assistance.

I support a drastic raise in SNAP funding NOT less. As a rich, industrialized nation, it is embarrassing that we not only have people food insecure but that we see it as their fault and look for ways not to help them when they need it most. As a tax payer, a voter, and a former child from poverty, I want you to increase SNAP not only to those who currently receive it, but increase those who are able to receive it.

If you have never experienced food insecurity, count your blessings, but do not punish and blame those where this is their every day reality. I am appealing to your sense of humanity, compassion, and yes, empathy. We have hundreds of thousands of people starving and food insecure in our state. Let’s make Michigan a state model of compassion and forward thinking.

Thank you for your time and please take this reality that is outside of your own seriously.

— Dr. Jjenna Hupp Andrews