Kevin Curry, founder of the Fit Men Cook fitness and food community, graduated from Harvard's Kennedy School in 2008 right into the recession and couldn't find work. He signed up for SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — and the caseworker's response stuck with him: "Don't be ashamed. This is a bridge from where you are to where you're going." After the November 2025 government shutdown delayed SNAP funding and left 42 million recipients facing cuts and uncertainty, Curry started sharing practical strategies with his social media followers. NPR's Life Kit collected nine of them . SNAP users can check if their state offers Double Up Food Bucks , which matches EBT dollars spent on produce — effectively doubling your fruit and vegetable budget. The USDA's National Hunger Hotline (1-866-348-6479, weekdays 8am–8pm ET) can find current food pantries near you, which is more reliable than googling since many listings go stale.…