The current Federal government shutdown has a ripple effect on 86,000 Utahns whose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were cut off effective Saturday, Nov. 1. This federally funded program administered by the state of Utah could have a substantial impact on families, children and older adults without ongoing support from private donations to Utah’s Food Bank and other related church or community facilities.
Coordinating with Utah’s Food Bank, community resource organizations like Switchpoint, among others, have been able to meet current needs so far. But the shutdown not only affects people who have received SNAP benefits in the past, but also federal government employees who have not been able to make ends meet as the shutdown drags on.
“Despite a significant increase in requests for help with food, we had 10 new requests each day last week in Washington county alone. The generosity of local residents has helped us avoid a crisis so far,” says Jeff Tuscano, Washington County Regional Director for Switchpoint.
They aren’t being passive at Switchpoint or elsewhere, but they aren’t desperate. They are used to Utahns stepping up when they become aware of a need.
Ginette Bott, president and CEO of Utah’s Food Bank, said the response last week to the elimination of SNAP benefits has already been encouraging from local residents wanting to help. “We’ve had 91 different local people or organizations call this past week to talk about their own food drives. Online donations are also up. When I talk to my counterparts in other states, it is obvious that things are different here in Utah. We have a very giving culture.”
This is not a short term phenomenon, either. According to the World Giving Index and WalletHub, over the years Utah consistently ranks first or second in overall charitable giving in time and money. Donations are generous in each region of the state, with giving occurring broadly among ethnic and economic groups, rather than just among a few wealthy people.
Some local businesses have responded with compassion and generosity, like Sward’s Cafe in Spanish Fork, which is offering free meals to anyone affected by the shutdown including federal workers.
“We understand that … many families relied on government aid and we understand that children, parents, grandparents might be struggling to find their next meal,” said Diana Alfaro, one of their managers, adding that she has also experienced meal uncertainty.
“Emotionally, it is draining knowing that you have to ask and rely on somebody else to give you basic essentials. Nobody should feel that way ever.”
Of course, there are acute needs all around the world calling for urgent attention. How and where to best support are not always easy to discern.
Food bank employees I interviewed at various locations around the state said that recipients typically have minimum wage jobs, disabilities, or high medical bills that make buying groceries difficult. These workers who see recipients say it’s a myth that those getting commodities at a food bank don’t want to work or are looking for a handout. This is simply not the case, they say.
The government shutdown has not only made it hard for those who were receiving SNAP benefits. For federal government employees who have been furloughed and are going without paychecks, it has made buying groceries difficult. With no resolution in sight, it is unclear how long the furloughs will last.
“I worry a lot for employees that both spouses work for the federal government,” says Amy Nelson, employed by the IRS in Ogden. “We don’t know how long this is going to go on.” She said she and her co-workers just want to get back to work and do their jobs. In the meantime, they are grateful for the generosity of neighbors who are helping out in so many different ways.
Most of us have felt the satisfaction that comes from giving to others. Now, studies reported in Scientific American, have found a strong connection between giving and happiness.
Cross cultural research shows that it is a spontaneous universal human trait, with evidence that giving is more spontaneous than greed (you have to think about being greedy, giving comes naturally). Generosity, it seems, is its own reward.
Psychologists call this a “helper’s high” — a physical sensation of euphoria that occurs inside our brains that produces a dopamine rush from generously giving time or money to those in need. This is more than just a fleeting feeling of satisfaction; it’s a complex interplay of neurochemical reactions that occur when we volunteer or donate on behalf of others.
There is something else researchers have found. Not only do givers feel better and find it easier to be happy when they give generously, they also do better financially. There seems to be a multiplier effect attached to giving: the more we share what we have with others, the better off we become financially ourselves.
From reading all of the available data, Harvard lecturer Arthur C. Brooks concluded that: “Charity brings happiness, happiness brings success.”
Apparently, it really is better to give than to receive. And you know what? Now is a perfect time to do it. Click on this link to donate to the Utah Food Bank: Give Money — Utah Food Bank Giving to the Utah Food Bank is even better than giving directly to someone or even donating food to them. That’s because for every dollar donated to the Utah Food Bank, they can leverage our donations and purchase $7.23 in goods and services.
Now there’s a financial return that any investor would welcome. This Thanksgiving season, let’s invest in each other. The returns are phenomenal.