The People are hungry.
SNAP and Food Stamps are not new; they were created in the late 1930s, when people who were less fortunate received government help to afford food.
The idea sounds great and is very beneficial for many people; however, it raises the question of who is allowed to receive food stamps.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, we saw that over 41,697,500 people in the United States, or 12% of the total population, were using food stamps.
These are just statistics to help show how many people are in need. But the people in these statistics can be seen as those who earn under the annual salary or as people with children who are struggling to make ends meet. With over 60% of Snap benefits going to these people.
This sounds good, but one big miss with Snap is that they don’t help people who may need it now, for example, college students, especially athletes, or people who are heavily involved in their school.
“It’s hard for me, I wake up and practice, go to school, do my internships, and then I have no time for a job. I don’t have a meal plan, so getting food is scarce at times,” an anonymous student said.
It’s noted that during this interview process, many people chose to remain anonymous for various reasons.
The average college kid takes 15 credit hours a semester now, and adding sports or clubs can fill one’s week to the point where working can be hard. As well, jobs won’t hire many college kids out of fear or because of hard scheduling.
“I applied it felt like everywhere, you see a restaurant I applied to, you see a gas station I applied to. It’s just hard to get a job because I can’t work normal hours,” Pierson Wilkerson said.
So now what? You are stuck in a place where food is hard to get, and money isn’t as easy to come by. Do you rely on your family or what?
You rely on your community, which is what the Decatur area is doing right now. Decatur is home to many different food shelters like the Salvation Army, The Good Samaritan Inn, and even the new and improved Millikin Market right on campus.
“If people are hungry, the only thing on their mind is where to get food,” Molly Berry said. “We need students ready for the demands of college and not solely focusing on food. The Market helps students fill the gap.”
This was said as the Millikin market has seen much improvement, and many guests are arriving to pick up their meals.
“It’s nice, man, the food does truly help, whether they have canned goods or bags or whatever. I feel a slight burden off my back and can continue to move on with my week a little easier,” Pierson Wilkerson said.
The community is here, and they are all stepping up to help people in need, whether you’re a struggling homeowner, a hardworking family, or a college kid looking to eat during the week. The community is here to help.
“It’s nice to receive help from the community; it doesn’t go unnoticed,” an anonymous student said.
Now, in addition to the Food shelters, it’s important to know how to apply for SNAP or other benefits.
“I play sports, and I was able to receive food stamps this year. I did it all on my phone, and after a while I got the confirmation and boom I’m eating again,”
As stated, you can go to https://abe.illinois.gov/access/ to enter your information and see if you are eligible.
As well, Decatur is home to many other ways for help…
Food Pantries & Shelters
- Good Samaritan Inn — 920 N Union St, Decatur, IL 62522
- Salvation Army Food Pantry — 137 S Church St, Decatur, IL 62523
- New Vision Market — 550 N Van Dyke St, Decatur, IL 62522
- Catholic Charities — 247 W Prairie Ave, Decatur, IL 62523
- Northeast Community Fund — 839 N Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Decatur, IL 62521
- Helping Hands Food Pantry & Clothing Room — 1177 W Hickory Point Rd, Decatur, IL 62526
- Reasonable Service — 321 E Leafland Ave, Decatur, IL 62521
Other Nearby Food Assistance (Listings I found Online)
- AMELCA 1st Evangelical Lutheran Church Food Pantry — 250 W Decatur St, Decatur, IL 62522
- Moundford Food Pantry — 1803 E Mound Rd, Decatur, IL 62526
- Hopeful Heart Ministries Food Pantry — 1645 S 44th St, Decatur, IL 62521
- Northwest Christian Church Pantry — 1306 N Stanley Dr, Decatur, IL 62526
- Old King’s Orchard Community Center Pantry — 815 N Church St, Decatur, IL 62523
Community Food Pantry at Life Builders Church — 833 W Pershing Rd, Decatur, IL 6252
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