Healey responds to federal SNAP cuts with statewide anti-hunger task force

As cuts to food assistance come down from the Trump administration Massachusetts will create an anti-hunger task force to advise on mitigating the losses Gov Maura Healey released Thursday We re at a time right now where President Trump and Republicans in Congress have made cuts including cuts to support that feed kids and seniors and families across this country disclosed Healey In the midst of that it was very major to the LG and me that we bring everyone together and say we re going to work together like never before to make sure that we are doing everything that we can to end and prevent hunger in the Bay State The governor signed an Executive Order creating an Anti-Hunger Task Force on Wednesday gathering with food assistance advocates and local and state leadership at the Mystic Neighborhood Domain in Medford The announcement comes just under two weeks after the Trump administration signed off on billion in food assistance cuts and new eligibility requirements within the Big Beautiful Bill The SNAP changes are expected to impact over a million residents in Massachusetts Healey reported These include teens parents kids infants seniors veterans people with disabilities mentioned Healey A million in Massachusetts alone impacted by this in a state of million people All of them in one way or another are going to be at greater threat of hunger because of these cuts The governor also noted the SNAP initiative generates billion annually in the Massachusetts business sector across businesses The SNAP alterations build on the administrations previous cuts of million in federal funding for child care and schools food programs million for food banks and another million for a local farmer to family food activity The Greater Boston Food Bank ascertained in Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity in according to the Cost of Hunger analysis The account also identified food insecurity has steadily risen over the last five years from of Massachusetts households in to in It s going to get worse in terms of what we re going to see announced Greater Boston Food Bank President Catherine D Amato These are not just statistics These are certainly people These are our neighbors families being forced to choose between paying rent or buying groceries Adults skipping meals or their medication to feed their children Children forgoing training or missing school and veterans waiting in long car lines in order to get a few food guidance The task force will include a wide range of representatives from food banks non-profits SNAP recipients farmers and small business owners along with state and local executive Related Articles Beef prices have soared in the US and not just during grilling season Recipes Make these tasty dinners on a single rimmed baking sheet Focaccina is a perfect beach picnic food More peas please Snap shell or snow peas are a summertime staple Gretchen s table Singapore shrimp burgers offer a sweet and spicy take on a summer classic The group will work to produce recommendations to mitigate the impact of cuts as they go into effect and develop longer term sustainable solutions the governor stated My message to the inhabitants is the need is real Healey declared It exists now and it s only going to get worse given what President Trump and Congress have done with these cruel cuts Now is the time to contact your local food pantry find out how you can get involved Make a donation They take cash To offer your time and your potency and talk about this as an issue and show others how they can get involved To advocacy one another