A recent announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will go without their benefits beginning November 1, due to the federal government shutdown.
SNAP is a nationwide program that provides monthly financial assistance to low-income families so that they can access healthy food. Of the millions who rely on this social safety net, many are families, working individuals, or people with disabilities who require help to get by. In 2023, approximately 39% of all SNAP participants were children.
So, parents, community members, and anyone who expects trick-or-treaters this Halloween have a few tricks up their sleeves.
“With SNAP benefits being cut for the month of November, I’m worried about the kids eating, and more specifically, the kids from my neighborhood,” a TikTok creator named Gary shared in a new video.
This isn’t his first rodeo. The dad with over 700,000 followers on TikTok posts annual Halloween hauls, where he shares foods — in addition to candy — that he hands out to the children in his neighborhood. Last year, he had a tub of Pop-Tarts, saltine crackers, microwavable macaroni, and more.
He’s at it again this year — with even more reason to offer up more than just treats.
In his video, he fills a tub with a bedding of standard-issue assorted candy, and then begins layering in other selections.
“Our most popular item from last year is back: Saltine crackers,” he shared. “Y’all laugh at me every year, and the crackers are always the first to go.”
He then added in some other staples, like Chef Boyardee ravioli cups, macaroni and cheese cups, instant oatmeal cups, instant mashed potato cups, individually packaged cereal, juice pouches, and more.
“You gotta think beyond the candy,” he said. “When these kids wake up, they can’t eat all of that candy for breakfast.”
While Gary has been a longtime champion of alternative Halloween goodies, plenty of other caring adults are stepping up to the plate this holiday season.
Another creator, Kelcie Martin, made a video about how she planned to get flats of ramen to add to her repertoire, especially because they often cost less than bags of candy.
“With the possible loss of food stamps and SNAP … this is a great way for kids to get food without feeling embarrassed,” Martin said. “If they want to stock up, I’m not gonna say anything.”
Her idea is not the only one. Countless videos and lists of shelf-stable foods are circulating across the internet, including suggestions to buy granola bars, pre-packaged pretzels and crackers, packaged pastries, and more shelf-stable, kid-friendly foods that young people can enjoy well beyond their trick-or-treating excursions.
Another mom, Christina Stabile, made a video saying she was inspired by Martin’s ramen idea. She showed how she plans to pack ramen and other snacks in her child’s Halloween goody bags for school celebrations.
“I’m not doing trick-or-treaters, or a trunk-or-treat, but my son does go to public school, and a ton of those kiddos are at risk,” she said.
Sabile also said putting the goody bags together offered up an important conversation with her own child, when he asked why they were handing out ramen this year.
She told him, “The government decided to take away funds, money, from families that usually use it for their food bill every month … It’s going to hurt a lot of the kids in your class.”
She added that their offering was “a little something that we could do.”
“It doesn’t change everything, but it’s something we can do. It shows them that we care about them, it builds community, and I want my son to know that instead of just complaining … we can do something.”
She called it “trick-or-trEAT,” with an emphasis on “eat.”
While these are just three examples of people sharing their plans, countless others included comments about their own Halloween-related food efforts to feed children who might not otherwise have access to the food they need every day.
And even if SNAP benefits are reinstated, as Gary knows, Halloween is always an opportunity for young people to subtly and joyfully get a little extra support from their neighbors.
“I encourage y’all to change up the way you do y’all’s Halloween baskets this year,” Gary concluded in his video. “You never know when there’s a hungry kid. They could be right next door to you.”
You may also like: SNAP benefits stop Nov. 1. This Portland coffee shop is serving free SNAP breakfast 'until everyone’s benefits are reinstated, or we go broke doing it'
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