63-year-old Fasts 15 Days

A 63-year-old Massachusetts anti-hunger advocate, Liz Wills-O'Gilvie, has been fasting for 15 days to protest the Trump administration's food stamp cuts. The cuts have resulted in over 5.3 million individuals losing SNAP benefits nationwide.

In Massachusetts, the Department of Transitional Assistance reported a significant decrease in SNAP enrollment, with nearly 182,000 individuals, including roughly 65,000 children, losing benefits. This decline has put a strain on low-income families in the state.

Wills-O'Gilvie, who suffers from lupus and hypoglycemia, has been consuming only water, electrolytes, and glucose pills during her fast. She is the director of the Springfield Food Policy Council and the food justice group Gardening the Community.

The Department of Transitional Assistance has seen a 9% increase in daily call volume since last year, with roughly 47% of callers unable to connect, up from 37%. This increase in call volume has overwhelmed agency staff, making it difficult for residents to access aid.

Wills-O'Gilvie was appointed by Governor Maura Healey to a statewide Anti-Hunger Task Force formed last July after Trump's legislation passed. She spoke with Governor Healey, who promised to address the matter. However, the DTA and Healey's office did not respond to requests for comment.

## Why it matters The cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have led to escalating food insecurity, particularly among low-income families. With rising grocery prices and midterm elections approaching, states are under pressure to implement the updates to the program. Wills-O'Gilvie's fast aims to bring attention to the issue and urge Governor Healey to expand funding for Massachusetts' food stamp assistance benefits.

The situation in Massachusetts reflects the national trend, where over 5.3 million individuals have lost SNAP benefits since President Donald Trump enacted major overhauls to the program. As the issue continues to affect millions of people, advocates like Wills-O'Gilvie are pushing for change to address the growing problem of food insecurity.