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Jan. 29, 2014
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Several members of the UNLV men's golf team, including head coach Dwaine Knight, assistant coach JC Deacon, and student-athletes AJ McInerney and Kenden Slattery, are taking part in the Three Square "SNAP Experience" this week.
The challenge is to eat healthy meals off of $18.55 for the week (5 days), or $3.71 per day.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly known as "food stamps"), is a federal nutrition program of the US Department of Agriculture. More than 106,000 households in Clark County receive an average SNAP benefit of $260 per month.
Eligible families must apply for benefits through the State of Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. Household income is a key factor in determining the eligibility of an individual or family; in Nevada, household income must be at or below 200% of poverty. Under these guidelines, a family of three cannot exceed a monthly income of $3,052, or $36,600 per year. Many of the low-income seniors and families that Three Square has helped apply for benefits fall far below this threshold.
Three Square "SNAP Experience" website
Three Square "SNAP Experience" daily blog
Coach Knight's Grocery Bill photo
Coach Deacon's Groceries photo
"Got my food for the week starting tomorrow," Knight said on Sunday. "JC spent $17.44. I had to work a lot harder at shopping and watching prices. We are so lucky to normally eat what we want, when we want it."
"I was amazed at how much thought and planning has to go into spending $18.55 on an entire week of nutrition," Deacon said on Monday. "Many of us take for granted the ability to buy whatever looks good when we go grocery shopping. All of a sudden I was running around returning things, pricing items to the penny, and trying to squeeze out every bit of value I could. Being halfway through my first day I am already hungry. I have thought about food and eating more today than all of 2014 combined to date. I can't imagine how it would feel if this was your reality. My heart goes out to those who struggle to nourish themselves and their families. I hope this bit of perspective sticks with me long term, what an eye opener the SNAP experience has been already."
