The Unsettling Quiet: New Hampshire's Food Security on the Brink

The quiet hum of summer, usually a time for carefree play and sunshine, carries a different kind of worry for many families in New Hampshire. You see, a vital lifeline—food assistance, the kind that helps put meals on the table—is facing a rather stark cliff edge. And honestly, it’s quite a situation, especially when you consider what’s at stake: the well-being of our children.

For a while now, thanks in large part to the lingering economic ripples of the pandemic, many low-income families across the Granite State have received a bit of extra help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. These weren’t just minor adjustments; they were boosts, real and tangible, that kept hunger at bay for countless households. But, here's the thing: those enhanced benefits, a temporary measure you could say, are poised to vanish come 2025. It’s a return to pre-pandemic levels, a reality that, for many, means significantly less support each month. It's not just a statistic; it’s less food, fewer options, more stress.

Then there’s Summer EBT, a program that, for once, offered a glimpse of a more stable future. Envision it: $120 per eligible child, directly to families, to help fill the nutritional gap when school cafeteria doors close for the season. This past year, in 2024, New Hampshire—thankfully, some would say—embraced this federal funding. It felt like a breakthrough, a recognition that summer shouldn't be a time of increased food insecurity for our youngest residents. Melanie Shaer, the executive director of New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, puts it rather plainly, doesn’t she? This initiative is "crucial." And she's absolutely right. When you think about the more than 50,000 children who rely on these programs, the word "crucial" feels almost understated.

But the fate of Summer EBT beyond 2024? Ah, there’s the rub. It hinges, rather precariously, on whether the state decides to commit its own funds to keep it going. Federal money can only do so much, and for this program to truly take root and provide consistent relief, New Hampshire needs to step up. It’s a decision that will ripple through homes, through communities, through the very fabric of childhood summers for years to come. Losing it would mean, in truth, an unnecessary setback for families already navigating challenging waters.

Shaer, among other advocates, is urging state officials to make this program a permanent fixture. And why wouldn't they? The evidence is clear: children thrive when they’re well-nourished. They learn better, they play harder, they simply are better. Without the Summer EBT, without those crucial extra SNAP dollars, we're looking at a scenario where more children could face hunger, where parents could grapple with impossible choices between bills and groceries. It’s a sobering thought, isn't it?

So, as 2025 approaches, the question really becomes: What kind of future are we building for our New Hampshire families? One where essential food support is allowed to dwindle, or one where we ensure that no child goes hungry, no matter the season? It’s more than just policy; it’s about humanity, about the fundamental promise we make to our community's most vulnerable members. And for once, maybe, just maybe, we can choose the path that truly nourishes us all.