When times get tough, SNAP steps in

In early 2024, Carla* had to close her hair salon because of a health issue called rheumatoid arthritis. It made it too painful for her to stand all day and hard to hold her tools. She found work at a school, where she did many different jobs to try to work full-time hours. She was a classroom helper, helped with school lunches, and even cleaned classrooms. Even though she worked hard, she still didn't make enough money to support her family.

"I didn't know how I was going to keep everything together. I was really worried about how I would feed my kids," said Carla.

In December 2024, she asked Human Services for help and qualified for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP (or food stamps). This support helped her feed her children while she kept working. Just a few months later, she was offered a new full-time job with better pay, so she no longer needed SNAP by March 2025.

"SNAP helped us buy groceries when I wasn't making enough money. We only needed it for four months, but it was a lifesaver during a really tough time," she said.

Carla's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, even the hardest-working people need a little help to get through tough times. With support from SNAP, she was able to care for her family and stay on her feet until a better opportunity came along. Her journey shows how short-term help can lead to long-term success—and how programs like SNAP give families the breathing room they need to move forward with hope and dignity.

Carla isn't alone. 

About 1 out of every 10 people in Faribault and Martin Counties gets help from SNAP. As food prices have gone up, the agency is seeing more families applying for help to keep food on the table. Similarly, we've heard from partners that our local food shelves are seeing significant increases in numbers of families needing food. Proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could have serious consequences for families in Faribault & Maritn Counties who are already struggling to put food on the table. SNAP is the largest and most effective anti-hunger program in the U.S., helping over 40 million people afford groceries each year. But new budget proposals in Congress aim to cut SNAP funding by nearly $300 billion over the next decade. If these cuts go through, millions of people—especially children, seniors, and working families—could lose access to food assistance. Food banks and local pantries, which already operate under strain, warn they won't be able to fill the gap. For every meal a food bank provides, SNAP delivers nine. Without that support, food insecurity is expected to rise sharply, especially in rural and low-income communities. 

*Name has been changed to protect identify of client. Story has been shared with client permission.