Can You Imagine What Hunger Feels Like?

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Can you eat on just $4.20 a day?From Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2014, members, staff and clergy of Congregation Shaare Emeth will take the SNAP Challenge and try to live on the average food budget of a Missouri SNAP recipient – just $29.25 per week or less than $1.40 per meal. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps). Why are we doing this? To raise awareness about the struggles faced by millions of food-insecure households, to experience first-hand how difficult it is to afford nutritious foods, and to renew our commitment to do what we can to put an end to hunger.

Please join us by attending one of our hunger events, following our blog as we document our experiences (subscribe by email in the box on the right, subscribe to the blog feed, or check back daily), joining as SNAP Challenge participant and blog author, or participating in an alternate way. Let's all learn a little more about what it's like to live solely on food stamps.

SNAP Challenge Participation Guidelines

SNAP Challenge Participation Guidelines & Budget

Participate in the SNAP Challenge, whether that's for one day or for the whole week. Register with us by emailing the names of all participating members of your household to fightinghunger (at) shaare-emeth.org. We'll send you an invitation to be an author on our blog and share your experiences.
  1. Each person can only spend a total of $29.25 on food and beverages during the Challenge week - this translates to $4.17 per day, or $1.40 per meal.
  2. All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, including fast food and dining out, must be included in the total spending.
  3. During the Challenge, eat only food you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments).
  4. Avoid accepting free food from friends, family or at work, including food at receptions or coffee in the office.
  5. Keep track of receipts on food spending, and take note of your experiences throughout the week.
  6. If you’d like, donate the additional money you would have spent on food during this week to a local food bank or anti-hunger advocacy organization.
If you have any questions, contact Rabbi Goldstein at agoldstein (at) shaare-emeth.org or 314-569-0010.

Alternate Ways to Participate

  • Participate in the SNAP Challenge for a single day or a single meal rather than the entire week.
  • Have a family dinner on a food stamp budget; that's $1.40 per person. Explain to family members at dinner why you're using this budget.
  • Follow the guidelines above except allow free food and drinks.
  • Attend one of our hunger events.
  • Buy and watch one of the following documentaries at home: Food Stamped, A Place at the Table.
  • Follow our blog (subscribe by entering your email address in the "Follow by Email" text box on the right) and read other's experiences as they take the SNAP Challenge. Respond to blog posts with your own comments as you learn a little more about what it's like to live solely on food stamps. You can read the posts from our Fall 2012 Food Stamp Challenge, too.
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