Hunger Facts:

An estimated 49 million Americans are food insecure – they do not know where their next meal will come from or when they might eat again. Of those 49 million, almost 17 million are children and 5 million are seniors. Last year, over 37 million people used a Food Bank for emergency food assistance.

Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

As of October 1, 2008, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program.

“Eat right when money’s tight!”
Many Texans have trouble making ends meet each month. After paying for rent, utilities, transportation and childcare – there’s often little left over to purchase food.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

What is the Food Stamp/SNAP Program?
The Food Stamp/SNAP Program is a federally funded program that helps low-income families purchase nutritious food from retailers. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pays for Food Stamp/SNAP benefits throughout the country, and the Department of Health and Human Services manages and directs the program in Texas.

Low-income individuals with dependent children and some people who are elderly or have disabilities are eligible for Food Stamp/SNAP benefits. There is no time limit for Food Stamp/SNAP benefits for people with children and people who are elderly or have disabilities.

Benefits are also available to able-bodied adults (ages 18-50) who have no children. However, these individuals must work at least 20 hours a week or meet other work requirements in order to receive Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in any 36-month period.

Get Food Stamp/SNAP Information:

Food Stamp/SNAP Information in English

Food Stamp/SNAP Information en Español

Read your rights as an applicant. (This does not need to be submitted.)

The actual SNAP application. (This is the part that must be completed and submitted.)

For more information, or assistance completing your SNAP application, or for questions contact South Plains Food Bank Social Services Outreach Manager Denise Rudd at 806-438-8194 or by email at drudd@spfb.org.

SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamp) Application Program

SNAP participation has dropped alarmingly in the last five years. According to the USDA's July 2001 report to Congress, four out of ten individuals in the U.S. who are eligible for SNAP, are not receiving benefits. From 1996 to 2001, the U.S. experienced a 30.7 percent drop in SNAP participation. Texas experienced one of the largest decreases, with a 37 percent drop in the participation during the same time.
Except for the potentially eligible people who could get SNAP but do not because of fear, stigma, ignorance, or language barriers, no one has more at stake than the South Plains Food Bank in ensuring that all who are eligible are enrolled. Every time a food box is provided to a family that could potentially be receiving SNAP, another hungry family facing emergency circumstances could be going without help.
The South Plains Food Bank Outreach staff stands ready to assist anyone with their applications right over the phone, to secure an appointment, and with any other helpful information to overcome any barriers, whether real or perceived. The SPFB Outreach staff cover the following counties: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dawson, Dickens, Fisher, Floyd, Gaines, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Scurry, Stonewall, Terry, and Yoakum.

The SNAP-Ed program provides nutrition education to food stamp recipients and other eligible low-income individuals and families.

The goal of SNAP-Ed is to provide educational programs that help food stamp participants and those eligible for food stamps make healthier food choices and adopt active lifestyles that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA Food Guidance System. The program is designed to teach skills that help participants to:

Buy and prepare healthful meals and snacks based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA Food Guidance System
Become more physically active
Improve safe handling, preparation, and storage of food

Develop spending and savings plans to make food dollars last throughout the month

For more information contact SPFB Nutrition Educator Rachel Clark at 806-763-3003