President Trump is proposing a big change to the the SNAP program, also known as the food stamp program. The administration wants to replace food stamps with a food delivery box. Families in the program who receive about $90 a month would receive a package of U.S. grown and produced food.
Community Advocate Salena Santibanez said there are pros and cons to the idea. She said the convenience is a major selling point, because of what her fellow neighbors in the east side have to go through.
"People will actually walk to the convenience store to get their staple groceries versus jumping on the bus, a 20 minute bus ride to go grocery shopping," she said.
Santibanez is a firm believer in growing your own food. In fact, she has her own garden.
"By doing this in our home, it is something others can replicate because they now feel confident to do so," she said.
In this new plan, SNAP recipients would get half of their benefits in what would be called the 'Harvest Box.' It would include items like, milk, cereal, pasta, and peanut butter, to name a few. The box would be delivered straight to a recipient's door. Stephen Lucke with Gradopia Gardens isn't sold on the idea.
"Having choices is more American," he said. "It is more democratic. But if you want us to to make better choices, you need to have an educational program in K-12 that is funded. So that people are being taught how to not only eat healthy food, but prepare healthy, but also grow their own healthy food."
According to the USDA, about 16.4 million American households, or 81 percent in the SNAP program, would receive a box. Lucke and Santibanez said education is key for low-income families. Both said it starts with the children.
"By actually educating our children, we are educating the parents," she said.
The Trump administration said this plan would save nearly $130 billion over a ten-year period. The remainder of the benefits would go on a card for the families to use. This proposal still needs to have approval from Congress.