Leading the Charge to Remove Barriers for Military Families

For nearly a decade, MAZON has made it a priority to understand and address the unique challenges of military families who struggle with food insecurity. It’s unacceptable that tens of thousands of service members are shut out of accessing SNAP and other food assistance programs, and must quietly turn for help to food pantries. And now, the COVID-19 crisis is exacerbating the financial challenges of even more military families.

By the numbers

Food pantries

operate on or near every military base in the U.S.

1/3 of military children

at Department of Defense-run schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

24% of military spouses

are unemployed. This was true even before the COVID-19 crisis.

Tens of thousands

of military families are ineligible for SNAP because their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is counted as income.

This is Hunger
Stories
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“I’m doing all I can and serving my country, and I have to worry about how I’m going to buy food?”

Gabriel, California

“We thought being in the military might be a way out of living paycheck to paycheck… I'm shocked that so many military families are standing in line at the food pantry because they really need help.”

Ashley, California
Take Action

Urge Congress: Support Military Families Facing Hunger 

America’s men and women in uniform fight for our freedom; MAZON is fighting to ensure they have freedom from hunger. Please join MAZON in urging the Biden-Harris Administration to take immediate action to resolve this shameful and long-overlooked problem.

Take action now
Learn More

Private: MAZON Briefing Addresses Growing Hunger Among Military Families

MAZON partners with the National Military Family Association (NMFA) to convene a briefing with Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and others, urging the Senate Armed Services Committee to address the growing problem of hunger among U.S. military families. Read more.

The Surprising Population Left Behind by SNAP? The Military (Military Times)

Officials at the Pentagon, the White House, and in Congress have failed to address the painful reality that food pantries operate on or near almost every military base in this country, quietly providing emergency assistance to struggling military families. Read more.

Pandemic Leaves More Military Families Seeking Food Assistance (New York Times)

Just days after Congress excluded a bipartisan provision to address military hunger, the New York Times reports on this long-overlooked issue and quotes Josh Protas, MAZON's Vice President of Public Policy. Read more.

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