Julie Price, Development Associate for Grants

“The struggle of children, seniors, and families to have access to essential nutrition is a struggle we are all invested in and we all benefit when families succeed. Now more than ever we are all in this together.” - Cory Booker

This morning, while sipping a coffee purchased at my favorite bakery, I read about Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s attempt at the Food Stamp Challenge. To raise awareness of food insecurity among American families, Mayor Booker will spend only $30 on food over the next week, which is about the amount an individual participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps) receives. That breaks down to just over $4 per day.

I looked down at my cup, and realized that if I were doing the Food Stamp Challenge along with Mayor Booker, I would have blown nearly a whole day’s worth of meals with that one coffee, plus tip.