The federal government has announced they will not be issuing November’s food stamps (SNAP)--for everyone in the entire country in November. This is a crisis, an emergency, a deliberate starvation disaster. It impacts 12.5% of Mainers—170,000 Mainers!. In Knox County, the AIO Food Pantry says it affects about 5,000 people. This especially harms kids, elders, and people with disabilities.

I encourage everyone who can to donate to AIO — money is ideal because food pantries can get much better deals on food than regular people can, but food can be great too. AIO has been doing excellent work to make themselves more accessible and comprehensive, and even includes food delivery now. Donate to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Midcoast Meals on Wheels, and other food support services. Volunteer if you can!

If you have friends and family who rely on SNAP, ask how you can be supportive and be in solidarity with them. If you need support, reach out! There IS enough to go around--we just live in a system dead-set on creating and maintaining resource inequality.

Know that if you still have a balance on your SNAP card, you can use it, and people can still apply for SNAP, but the Trump administration says they won't issue new SNAP funds in November. My understanding is that starving millions of people in the U.S. is a deliberate CHOICE made by the Trump administration. The government shutdown didn't need to include cutting SNAP—for example, Social Security support will continue to be issued.

This is an intentional action to harm people, on top of the Republican budget which radically cuts SNAP and Medicaid, health insurance subsidies, homeless resources, etc., while Trump sets himself up for permanent residency in his Mar-a-Lago White House, costing at least $250 million of taxpayer money, and milking us for many more millions just for himself and his family (Trump is currently trying to get another $230 million from taxpayers just for himself, and the Republican-dominated Supreme Court, White House and Congress are fast destroying electoral fairness). 

This is a manufactured emergency, and I'm glad to see so many people stepping up to support, connect, and ask for help! Next, we will need to do a general strike, and support one another as we do it. I believe in US. <3

AIO

Good Shepard Food Bank

Meals on Wheels Midcoast Maine

Comprehensive food bank map for Maine

How to apply for emergency General Assistance (town-by-town public assistance)

Numbers you can call to find other resources for food include 211 and 866-811-5695

OR Text your zip code to 898-211

General Strike

Becca Shaw Glaser lives Rockport