Congresswoman Brown Shops on SNAP Budget in Cleveland

Cleveland, OH – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) joined representatives from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank on Wednesday at Dave’s Market on E. 61^st in Cleveland to highlight the importance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and the challenges that Northeast Ohio families relying on SNAP face.

Congresswoman Brown shopped for a week’s worth of groceries on a budget of just $42, the average weekly benefit for SNAP recipients nationwide.  Congresswoman Brown was joined by Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

On a budget of $42 dollars, Congresswoman Brown purchased pasta and pasta sauce, rice, chicken drumsticks, canned tuna, orange juice, white bread, whipped dressing, eggs, oatmeal, oranges, bananas, tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and lettuce for a total of $41.96. She was unable to afford milk, butter, oil, additional meat or proteins, mustard or ketchup, soup, additional breads or crackers, peanut butter or additional side items. Brown was only able to stay on budget by using store coupons and seeking out items on sale. 

"SNAP is a lifeline for folks who need a little extra help putting food on the table. It’s not a lot—just small benefits to make groceries more affordable,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “It was stressful shopping on this budget and watching every dollar – but that’s what thousands of my neighbors do every day. Trying to get by on $42 a week for food is incredibly tough, and I wish more of my colleagues experienced that firsthand. We should be strengthening SNAP, not cutting it. But the Republican budget proposes massive cuts to the program to pay for tax cuts for the rich—and that’s just plain wrong. I’ll fight these cuts every step of the way."

“Thank you to Dave’s Market for hosting us and for their investment in local neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio and thank you to the staff at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank who are fighting hunger every day,” added Congresswoman Brown.    

In February, Brown voted against the House Republican Budget that called for $230 billion in cuts to SNAP. According to the USDA, 21% of households in OH-11 (75,000 households total) rely on SNAP benefits, this includes 39% of households with children, 42% of households with an elderly person, and 51% of households with a person with a disability. The percentage of households in OH-11 that depend on SNAP is the highest for a congressional district in Ohio. 

Congresswoman Brown is Vice Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over the USDA and the SNAP Program. 

The event is part of “SNAP Challenge” events taking place across the country as members of the public demonstrate the difficulty of purchasing food on the limited support SNAP provides. Staff at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank are also taking part in the challenge this week. 

Warzocha was Brown’s guest for the President’s Joint Address to Congress earlier this month. 

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