When Jesus Handed Out Bread, He Didn’t Ask for Proof of Employment

I’ve seen a lot of ignorant videos lately—people flapping their gums on TikTok and Facebook about SNAP benefits like it’s some moral failing instead of a lifeline.
You know the ones:

“Just get a job!”
“Stop milking the system!”

And then, in the very next post, they’re quoting scripture and sharing “Jesus Saves” memes.

Funny—I don’t remember Jesus requiring a pay stub before turning water into wine or asking for a background check before handing out bread and fish.
He didn’t say, “Blessed are the employed, for they shall qualify for food assistance.”
Pretty sure compassion was kind of his whole thing.

Here’s the thing:

SNAP isn’t some free-for-all buffet.
It’s designed for low-income households, families with children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and yes—people who are working but still broke.

Let’s be real: when grocery prices are so high that even those of us with six-figure incomes are clutching our receipts like they’re eviction notices, maybe we can stop pretending this program is about “lazy people.”

And a fun economic fact: when SNAP benefits aren’t used, grocery prices actually go up.
Stores and suppliers don’t just eat the loss—they pass it right back to the rest of us. So congratulations to everyone “standing on principle”—you just made milk more expensive.

Who Actually Qualifies

• U.S. citizens or eligible immigrants with valid Social Security numbers.

• Foster parents and kinship caregivers can apply on behalf of the children in their care.

• People with disabilities, the elderly, or those temporarily out of work can receive assistance.

• Even if you’re employed, if your wages don’t cover rent, bills, and basic food—SNAP can bridge that gap.

And for anyone clutching their pearls about “illegals,” here’s a fact:  Noncitizens without legal status do not qualify for SNAP.
So maybe take a break from Fox News before hitting “post.”

Reality Check

Most adults (ages 18–64) can only receive three months of SNAP every three years unless they’re working, volunteering, or in training for at least 20 hours a week.
There are exemptions—like if you’re pregnant, disabled, living with young kids, or part of certain groups like Native communities.
But trust me, nobody’s getting rich off an EBT card.

The Point

If your compassion only kicks in when you are struggling, it’s not compassion—it’s convenience.

SNAP isn’t about handouts. It’s about keeping people fed long enough to get back on their feet.
And if Jesus could feed 5,000 without demanding a résumé, maybe we could manage a little empathy without an audit.

Because clearly, “give us this day our daily bread” didn’t mean only if you’ve clocked 40 hours and passed a drug test.

Signed,

A woman one Trader Joe’s haul away from applying herself