National Nonprofit Appeals To White House Amidst Gov't Shutdown/SNAP Crisis
- null null
- Oct 30
- 4 min read
Urgent Appeal for Immediate Action: The SNAP Crisis and the Imperative to End the Government Shutdown
October 30, 2025
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The Honorable JD Vance
Vice President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
The Honorable Steve Scalise
Senate Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Subject: Immediate and Critical Request for Resolution to the Government Shutdown to Avert a Catastrophic Child Hunger Crisis in Texas and Across the Nation
Dear President Donald Trump, Vice President Vance, and Esteemed Congressional Leaders,
Hide quoted text
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF)—a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID 88-3268749) dedicated to fostering safer communities and supporting vulnerable children, also known as The Uvalde Foundation For Kids—issues this immediate and urgent plea for decisive action to end the current federal government shutdown.
The political impasse has now transmuted into a severe humanitarian crisis, and its direct consequence—the confirmation that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued on November 1st—threatens to plunge hundreds of thousands of children in Texas into immediate and profound hunger.
The Looming Crisis in Texas: A Failure of Governance
Our organization is currently on the front lines, bearing witness to the devastating fallout of this imminent funding halt. Just yesterday, we launched a massive 12-county, 10,000+ inquiry emergency food card lifeline in Texas to provide a temporary "bridge funding" solution for families with school-age children facing an empty pantry this November. This unprecedented and immediate surge in requests demonstrates, with undeniable clarity, the scale of the impending catastrophe.
Over 10,000 inquiries were received by our 24-hour crisis line within a single day, an overwhelming demonstration of the desperation gripping families across the state. The fact that a non-profit charity is being inundated with a volume of requests typically managed by a federal agency is a staggering indictment of the current situation.
The cessation of SNAP benefits directly impacts 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children, who rely on this federal program for basic sustenance. This is not an abstract policy failure; it is a clear and present threat to the well-being and development of nearly two million young Texans.
The immediate and acute demand is spiking in regions such as El Paso and San Antonio, highlighting localized "food deserts" and communities already operating on the margins, where the loss of a single month's benefits is synonymous with starvation for a child.
The Nexus Between Hunger and Community Instability
As a foundation committed to peace and justice, we must underscore the devastating ripple effects of this self-inflicted hunger crisis. Food insecurity is not merely a matter of nutrition; it is a fundamental stressor on family stability, educational attainment, and community cohesion.
It is the firm and evidence-based stance of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation that creating a widespread hunger issue will only exasperate growing community conflicts and struggles, particularly amongst the youth.
When children are hungry, their ability to learn is diminished, their emotional and psychological stability is compromised, and the risk factors for future violence, delinquency, and community instability are significantly amplified. A stable, fed child is the most essential building block for a peaceful, thriving society.
By allowing this crisis to continue, you are effectively undermining the future social capital and safety of our nation. Inaction today directly translates to a more troubled and conflicted society tomorrow.
A Moral and Practical Imperative: Our Plea as a 501(c)(3)
We recognize the complexity of the ongoing negotiations, but the deliberate choice to allow essential, non-negotiable lifelines like SNAP to lapse represents a profound failure of governance and a breach of the fundamental trust placed in public servants.
As a non-profit 501c3 charity here in the United States, we are mobilizing every resource at our disposal—private donations, volunteer labor, and the dedication of our staff—but the scale of the need, exemplified by the $600+ million shortfall in Texas alone, far exceeds the capacity of the entire non-profit sector combined. Our emergency gift card program, while vital, is a fragile band-aid on a gaping wound.
We implore you, the leaders of the United States government, to move beyond partisan conflict. The immediate and full funding of the government, including the SNAP program, is an act of both moral urgency and practical necessity. We call upon you to prioritize the welfare of the most vulnerable citizens—our children—and resolve this shutdown immediately.
We stand ready to provide any data, ground-level information, or logistical assistance that may aid you in understanding the dire consequences of inaction.
We request a prompt response outlining the steps your offices will take to restore SNAP funding for November and prevent the starvation of America’s children.
Respectfully and with profound concern,
Daniel B Chapin, Founder & National Director
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (The Uvalde Foundation For Kids)
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charity
(Tax ID 88-3268749)
254 499 8027
