Residents and local grocer urge Trump to restore SNAP benefits, warn of local impact
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Summary
Public commenters said cuts or a freeze to SNAP would harm about 1,000,000 people in Massachusetts, including seniors and families; a cofounder of Nubian Markets said roughly 20% of his customers use SNAP and noted a City of Boston Double Up Bucks program that doubles produce purchasing power for SNAP recipients.
Speakers at a public comment session urged President Donald Trump to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits they said are being cut or frozen and that affect about 1,000,000 people in Massachusetts.
"Donald Trump is cutting off SNAP benefits that help 1,000,000 people in Massachusetts buy food. He'll be the first president ever to cut Americans from SNAP. It hurts our families, our seniors, our businesses. No family should have to go hungry," said Soroya Harley, a public commenter.
The appeal included details from a local grocer. "We're in a community based grocery store celebrating the food of the African diaspora, exposing folks not just in this community, but from outside the community to different diverse flavors. Roughly 20% of our customers use SNAP. We just onboarded the Double Up Bucks, a partnership with the City of Boston. So people who have been using SNAP have been able to get twice as much on on their produce using SNAP benefits," said Ismail Samad, cofounder of Nubian Markets.
Harley described immediate household impacts, saying she would not be able to buy needed items for her grandchildren or shop at farmers markets for fresh food if benefits are reduced. She urged collective action and asked the president to "unfreeze SNAP benefits now," arguing federal contingency funds could cover benefits during the shutdown.
"Donate to The United Way Fund or donate to your local food pantry or food bank. And in the meantime, I call on President Trump to make the right choice, to show leadership, and make sure that families are fed during this shutdown," Harley said.
Speakers highlighted two local responses: direct donations to charities such as United Way and the City of Boston's participation in the Double Up Bucks program, which Samad said increases SNAP recipients' purchasing power for produce. No formal vote or board action was recorded during the public comment.