Hi, I'm Maya Zimmerman, an artist of many stripes from Portland, OR. Like many creative people, I rely on SNAP benefits to survive. With the government shutdown cutting off SNAP, I'm going to be in a difficult situation getting food. Getting to a food bank would require commuting, which would require money. And food banks are going to be under intense strain right now as over 40,000,000 Americans (over 10% of the population of the country) lose access to their benefits.

I don't need much. Part of being on SNAP is learning how to be frugal with shopping, moreso now as food prices skyrocket and SNAP benefits have remained largely the same over the past four years. Every little bit helps. Just $10 covers all my meals for a full day including niceties like coffee.

The funds are for my survival and will be spent on groceries.