Today I was called dense for believing that SNAP benefits the local economy. But look at this: If Jane Doe receives $100 in SNAP benefits, that $100 in SNAP benefits generates about $150 to $180 in total economic output. This happens through a chain reaction:
Grocer’s Spend: The grocery store uses the $100 (and other revenue) to pay its costs.
Labor and Wages: They use the money to pay wages to the cashier, stockers, and managers who are also residents of your community. These employees then spend their wages locally (on rent, clothes, or even food).
Local Supply Chain: They use the money to pay for inventory, which supports local food processors, wholesalers, and regional distributors.
Agriculture Support: A portion of that money eventually makes its way back to local farmers and producers who supplied the goods. This means that if you or your family work in any of these avenues, you are benefitting from someone else’s SNAP benefits.
However, if SNAP comes to an end, and these same people spend less money, the opposite happens and grocery prices might even go up for you and your family (due to the principles of supply and demand). If you consider that over 30% of the children in my school district come from economically disadvantaged families (who likely qualify for benefits) that is a large chunk of the community purchasing groceries. So just remember that if your neighbor gets food stamps it’s actually good for everyone and SNAP has some of the lowest fraud rates of any government program. Please be kind. For the love of God and all that is good, just, and hopeful in this world, be kind.