Budzinski Discusses SNAP Impact with Champaign Food Aid Nonprofit

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Following a series of legal exchanges involving the Trump administration and a federal judge, the government has officially committed to fully fund the SNAP program.

On Thursday, WCIA reported that a judge in Rhode Island mandated the full funding of the SNAP program for November. In response, the USDA has announced its intentions to adhere to this ruling. In light of these developments, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski visited the Champaign nonprofit, The Land Connection, to explore the broader impacts on the community beyond just the consumers.

Learn where to access food assistance or donate to support Central Illinois communities.

The Land Connection is responsible for running the Champaign Farmers Market and supports eight additional markets, including one in Urbana. The organization maintains ongoing communication with both farmers and SNAP recipients at these events. Both groups have felt the impact and are optimistic about the latest developments.

“Many of our farmers depend on food assistance programs facilitated through The Land Connection for a portion of their income,” explained Jacquelyn Evers, Executive Director of The Land Connection. “We operate or assist with nine different farmers markets across Central Illinois through our link match program, which enables markets and farm stands to accept SNAP cards and offer additional food dollars to participants beyond their link card expenditures.”

Evers, along with other team members and representatives from C-U Public Health, engaged with Representative Budzinski to emphasize how farmers markets fulfill community food needs and generate significant revenue through SNAP.

With a significant chunk, around 25% of total sales, supporting farmers in the area.

“We have one vendor that up their percentage of snap sales, equates to $40,000, from farmer’s markets throughout the year,” Evers said.

As they were talking, the USDA made an announcement, saying they are working towards implementing November 2025 full benefit issuances in compliance with a Rhode Island judge’s order. But it hasn’t hit yet.

One 62-year-old in Central Illinois who uses SNAP said he normally gets $157 dollars a month, but as of today, he only got $20. He said he’ll have to make that stretch unless something changes, and he feels like he and others are a casualty of the politics around the government shutdown.

He also said he called into the office providing his benefits, but they did not know when those funds would be released.

Budzinski Discusses SNAP Impact with Champaign Food Aid Nonprofit

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Budzinski Discusses SNAP Impact with Champaign Food Aid Nonprofit

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