Families receiving SNAP faced with tough choices

Sitlaly Salinas, SNAP Participant 

For Sitlaly Salinas, SNAP has been a vital source of support over the years. But as her monthly benefit shrinks and grocery prices climb, she’s finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. 

“SNAP has helped a lot in the past years, but with every year, it’s been decreasing the amount for SNAP.” 

Like many families, Salinas is adjusting the only way she can—by making tough trade-offs at the grocery store. 

“Grocery stores having higher prices on food, it’s been getting a bit difficult for my family as well. We have to limit what we can and can’t buy.” 

She carefully tracks prices and seeks out the most affordable options, often sacrificing nutritional value in the process. 

“It’s sad to say that healthy food is a bit pricier than junk or frozen food at this point.” 

With SNAP benefits stretched thin, even routine grocery trips have become a stress point. 

“Shopping two times a week with the budget cuts, I feel like I won’t be able to afford groceries.” 

Salinas also visits her local food shelf to help close the gap, but even that isn’t guaranteed. Fresh produce is not always available. 

As the cost of living rises and benefits decline, families like Salinas’s are forced to stretch limited resources further each month.