SNAP was an Investment in my Family’s Health, Culture, and Future

Story: Marisol Diaz, Sr. Advisor, Family Engagement

New Mexico (September 2, 2025)

I grew up in an immigrant household where money was tight and every dollar had to stretch. My parents worked hard to provide for us, but no matter how much they sacrificed, it was not always easy to afford healthy food. SNAP helped make sure that food was not another sacrifice.  It meant our family could eat healthily, and it also meant we could eat in a way that kept us connected to our culture.  Tortillas, beans, rice, and fresh produce gave us both nourishment and dignity.

Those meals were more than calories.  They were a reminder that we were cared for, that we had a place at the table, and that we belonged.  SNAP made sure that even in the hardest seasons, food was not just about filling up but about feeling whole.

Years later, when I became a mother, I found myself in a similar place.  My husband and I were raising our daughter while both working and going to the university.  At times we were juggling as many as three jobs, determined to build financial stability for our household.  It was exhausting to balance school, work, and parenting, and money was always tight.  SNAP gave us one thing we did not have to worry about: whether our daughter had healthy food to eat.

SNAP meant she had the nutrients to grow, to learn, and to thrive, we had peace of mind knowing she was developing strong and healthy.  It gave us the space to keep moving forward, to invest in our future, without sacrificing hers.

SNAP is not just about surviving.  For families like mine, immigrant families and families working toward stability, it is about thriving.  It is about giving children what they need in the most critical years of their growth so that they can build bright futures of their own.

For us, SNAP was not charity.  It was an investment in my family, in my daughter, and in our chance to rise above circumstances that too often hold immigrant communities back.  It showed me that support can be more than a cycle of survival.  It can be the foundation that allows us to grow, belong and thrive.

Ready to rise up with us? Learn more about how you can join the movement.