STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Westerleigh resident Patricia Brooks, 70, loves oranges. But these days, oranges can be pricey, especially when she has to budget her entire month’s food shopping bill to just a little over $200, which is what she receives through the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“Once in a while they have oranges at the food pantry, but not every week. And, you know, I would like to buy a bag, but they are very expensive,” she said. “Oranges are my favorite fruit.”
After working her whole life in fast food and chain shops, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, Brooks retired eight years ago. She lives on her $1,087 Social Security benefits, which after the rent share for her Section 8 apartment — a federal housing assistance program — and bills, leaves her with only about $20 per month to buy food for herself and her 9-year-old rescue feline, Sampson.
That doesn’t cut it, so she relies on SNAP to survive.
Each month, Brooks is careful she doesn’t run out of the necessities — milk, bread and butter. But with the government shutdown and reduced and delayed SNAP benefits, she’s not sure she’ll even have those food items this month.
SNAP delays
The Trump administration announced it will partially fund SNAP following court rulings mandating its continuation, despite an earlier plan by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to halt payments due to the government shutdown, the Associated Press reported Monday.
Serving roughly 42 million Americans—about one in eight—the $8 billion-per-month program faced disruption, prompting urgent responses from food banks and state agencies, the report said. While the exact benefit amounts and timing remain uncertain, the process of reloading SNAP debit cards could take up to two weeks in some states, leaving many recipients in limbo, according to the Associated Press.
Westerleigh resident Patricia Brooks is worried about how she will pay for her groceries amid the government shutdown and delays in SNAP benefits.Scott R. Axelrod | SILive.com/Advance
“It is a tough situation, you know. And I think it’s totally unfair… the government shutdown is affecting people, human beings … when you run out of butter, milk and eggs, that’s hard to get in a pantry,” said Brooks.
The uncertainty and SNAP delays leave people like Brooks wondering where their next meal may come from. Or worse, fearing they will go hungry.
“Hopefully, I get it [her SNAP benefits] in the second half of the month, because that’s when I start running out of butter and eggs and some staples,” she said. “Usually, the last week and a half, two weeks, is when I run out of everything.”
In addition to herself, Brooks struggles to feed her cat.
“I have a friend who orders cat food once in a while, and she sends some my way. If I make a piece of fish, I’ll share a little bit with him. He gets this treat and he loves it,” she said.
Brooks spends 22 hours per week volunteering in Project Hospitality’s food pantry. This allows Brooks some social time, and to give back to the community that has been good to her.
“I’ve been blessed a few times in my life. I want to bless others; I like helping people. Volunteering is a great way to do it, you know. Plus, it gives me a social experience. It gets me out of the house,” she said.
Many Staten Islanders are food insecure
Food insecurity and the negative health outcomes that stem from an innutritious diet are issues that impact thousands in all corners of the borough, but as is often the case, those struggling financially are disproportionately impacted.
The Staten Island Advance/SILive.com analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2023 PLACES: Local Data for Better Health finding that areas where a higher percentage of residents rely on government assistance to afford food have higher rates of various health conditions that stem from poor diet.
Data from Staten Island reveals a clear correlation between economic hardship and chronic health conditions: ZIP codes with higher percentages of residents receiving SNAP benefits tend to have elevated rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
A message to government officials
Brooks says the situation is getting dire for many people who are food insecure, as well as those who can’t work due to the government shutdown.
“Hurry up and open the government…people need to be able to buy food, and people are not getting paid. And that’s not fair. How would they like it if they weren’t getting paid,” she said.
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