MARQUETTE — In the wake of proposed cuts to federal programs, one of those affected could be the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Education – a program that offers services to residents of the central Upper Peninsula.

SNAP-Ed offers support for healthier eating to individuals and families qualifying for food assistance, including those in more rural areas and small towns like those across the Upper Peninsula. Its funding approach covers individual habits, local policy and community environments, providing educators with opportunities to help schools and communities develop skills for long-term well being, strength and self-reliance.

In Michigan’s First Congressional District, which encompasses the Upper Peninsula and a portion of northern Lower Michigan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 12% of the population at 42,670 households participated in regular SNAP benefits in the 2023 fiscal year, with an overall poverty rate of 14% throughout the district. SNAP-Ed builds on this mission by not only providing monetary aid to individuals and families which are lower income and may have trouble affording food, but also offering education and programming on topics like nutrition, healthy eating and maintaining an active lifestyle.

The Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency is one of many organizations who are able to offer community services through SNAP-Ed funding. They teach thousands of students in schools about healthy eating and lifestyle choices, along with offering a high school culinary program that teaches students to critically examine school foods, create nutritious recipes and advocate for meal improvements. They also offer programming at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market to help families using food assistance maximize their benefits to purchase fresh and affordable local produce on top of nutrition education and supportive resources. MARESA is currently working on expanding initiatives to strengthen local food systems through hands-on learning experiences, linking farms with schools and establishing school-based food pantries to combat student hunger. They describe these services as “vital,” and the partnerships built between community organizations and schools foster lasting, positive changes. If there are cuts to SNAP-Ed programs, it’s possible that many of these resources and services could not continue.

“Cuts to SNAP-Ed would have severe and widespread negative effects on families, schools, and communities throughout the entire Upper Peninsula. Losing this funding would immediately stop all the SNAP-Ed services we provide: our school-based nutrition and physical activity lessons, youth cooking and advocacy programs, farmers market support, and our work to build stronger local food systems, including school food pantries,” said Haley Braiser, a Health Education Consultant with MARESA, in an email to the Mining Journal. “This isn’t just about cancelling programs; it means taking away crucial support for students and families facing food insecurity, losing chances for children and adults to learn vital cooking and healthy eating skills, and undermining efforts to create a more self-sufficient local food system. People should care because these services directly impact the health, academic success, and future financial stability of our most vulnerable residents. Without SNAP-Ed, the U.P. risks a decline in public health, more families struggling with hunger, and a bigger gap in access to nutritious food, especially for students who depend on school meals and would lose critical support and education.”

Brasier explains that MARESA’s Health Team and network of community partners and schools continue to work tirelessly to build robust services to help transform lives in the central Upper Peninsula.

“It’s crucial to understand that SNAP-Ed programming is delivered across the entire UP by various dedicated organizations, all dependent on this federal funding. Our multi-sector approach has fostered deep, collaborative relationships, demonstrating that targeted investments in nutrition and physical activity yield powerful results,” said Brasier. “Investing in SNAP-Ed is an investment in the future health and resilience of our communities. We urge our elected officials and community members to recognize the profound and irreplaceable value of SNAP-Ed funding to ensure these essential services can continue to serve the unique needs of the entire Upper Peninsula.”

The data sets referenced in this article can be found at the following websites:

• fns.usda.gov/data-research/data-visualization/snap-community-characteristics-congressional-

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• snaped.fns.usda.gov/library/materials/michigan-snap-ed-state-impact-reports

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.