One of every eight Americans makes use of federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. One out of eight. Let that sink in for a minute. 

In Polk County, things aren’t quite as bad, at just one in nine. That’s still awful. But it’s much worse in some places. Next door in Rutherford County, for example, it’s about one in five. Why do we, the richest country in the history of the world, accept such a shameful state of affairs?

The executive director of Thermal Belt Outreach, Margot Carter, and I tackle that question.

Resources

Thermal Belt Outreach

SNAP

SNAP Participation rates by county

SNAP funding, shutdowns, and the law

Note that in the interview, Margot discusses who among Outreach clients are unemployed: the 5% figure is based on Outreach 2025 financial assistance applications and those who were eligible for employment.