New Trier High School released an email on Nov. 3rd that officially responded to the status of SNAP benefits. Since the government shutdown on Oct. 1, SNAP benefits are now partially funded in Illinois for the month of November.

According to Christopher Mitchell, the Associate Principal for Student Services, the number of New Trier students who rely on SNAP is fairly low at roughly 1%. Those students also qualify for New Trier’s Student Financial Assistance Program, which offers students a free choice of lunch and breakfast provided by New Trier’s food service: Quest Food Management Services (Quest). 

Mitchell also said that part of New Trier’s goal in working with Quest is to ensure students reliant on the Student Financial Assistance Program do not feel isolated from their peers and to provide them with the freedom and flexibility to choose from a variety of food options in the cafeteria. 

Amid reduced SNAP benefits, New Trier has tried to make up for the SNAP’s financial losses by providing more support for students in need. 

“We have extended our services to having [SNAP users] pick up food that we know they’re going to take home, and that can benefit them and also benefit siblings, families, or parents.” Mitchell said. 

Mitchell also mentioned that New Trier can connect anyone with food insecurity to the New Trier Township, which can connect them to the food pantry or anything else they may need. However, he acknowledged that other schools facing reduced SNAP benefits might not be as flexible.

“In this area in particular, we’re well equipped,” Mitchell said. “Because we’re resourced, because we’re compassionate, we try to do what other schools might not have the reach to do.”

Mitchell encouraged any student in need to reach out to his office, an advisor, or anyone at New Trier because they might not even know about the financial assistance available to them.

Mitchell said that New Trier aims to protect students’ privacy throughout the process of receiving financial aid.

“If you need support, talk to somebody about it,” Mitchell said. “We just want to be the best support that we possibly can and make it as confidential as we can.”