SteamRocket Shifts Focus to Combat Youth Food Insecurity Amid SNAP Benefits Crisis

SteamRocket, a Coachella Valley nonprofit organization dedicated to making STEAM education accessible to local youth, announced today that its board of directors has voted to redirect organizational resources toward addressing food insecurity among valley children in response to the halting of SNAP benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The critical decision comes as President Trump announced today that SNAP benefits will not be paid until the government reopens, reversing the administration's previous commitment to provide partial payments. An estimated 42 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, are now facing indefinite suspension of their food assistance. In the Coachella Valley specifically, nearly 40% of local youth live in households that have had to spend less money on food to prioritize other basic needs, with 14% having to cut meal sizes or skip meals entirely.

"The science is clear, and we're big on science at SteamRocket," said Elle Decker, co-founder of SteamRocket. "Studies consistently show that hungry children do not learn well or easily. When a child's basic nutritional needs aren't met, their ability to concentrate, retain information, and engage in the learning process is severely compromised. It's not the mission we set out to accomplish when we started SteamRocket, but we're shifting our focus to address the number one problem our youth are facing today."

The decision is grounded in extensive research documenting the profound impact of hunger on children's educational outcomes. Research has found that hunger affects approximately one-third of children globally and has a stronger negative effect on cognitive development in early childhood, with long-lasting repercussions. Studies show that children who experience hunger at home have lower vocabulary and word recognition scores, with negative impacts on social-emotional skills and an approach to learning.

A recent UNICEF report estimates that hunger can reduce academic performance by up to 20%, as the brain uses over 20% of the body's energy to function. Children whose parents report food insufficiency are more likely to have repeated a grade, received special education services, scored lower on tests of psychological adjustment, earned lower grades in math, and had more absences from school.

The Coachella Valley faces particularly acute challenges. Over 80% of students across the valley's three school districts qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, and the food insecurity rate in the region exceeds 15%, meaning approximately one in six residents is at risk of food insecurity. Nearly one-third of local children live below the poverty line, and 60% live in households with annual incomes below $50,000.

The current federal shutdown has created an unprecedented crisis. The USDA froze SNAP funding beginning November 1, the first time this has happened since the program began six decades ago. While the administration initially committed Monday to using $4.65 billion from SNAP's contingency fund to cover approximately 50% of November benefits, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warning the partial payments would take "several weeks" to process, President Trump announced today that no benefits will be paid until the government reopens. The timing of when benefits might resume remains uncertain.

"We recognize that hungry children cannot fully benefit from STEAM education or any educational programming," Decker added. "By addressing food insecurity first, we're actually investing in our original mission: creating opportunities for valley youth to succeed academically and reach their full potential."

SteamRocket will use donations, profits, and organizational income to support food distribution efforts and partner with established food security organizations serving Coachella Valley youth. The organization plans to collaborate with local schools, food banks, and community partners to ensure maximum impact during this crisis.

For more information about SteamRocket's emergency response initiative or to contribute to food security efforts for Coachella Valley youth, please get in touch with SteamRocket at crystal@steamrocket.co

SteamRocket is a Coachella Valley-based nonprofit organization originally founded to make STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education accessible to local youth. In response to the current food security crisis affecting valley children, the organization has temporarily shifted its focus to address the immediate nutritional needs that are preventing students from learning effectively.