Have you ever experienced transformational change because of a hand up? Community Change Communications Fellow Ayanna Albertson shares how learning that she qualified for SNAP benefits during college helped her survive in a critical moment, allowing her to focus on developing her voice and art. All of us should be able to focus on life beyond meeting our basic needs. But 1 in 3 Gen Z adults were food insecure in the first half of 2022. Because of COVID-19, the government expanded eligibility benefits – 3 million college students were better able to feed themselves (a 115 percent increase from June 2020). We know that making resources more available to the people who need it works. These emergency benefits are still not permanent, and will end 30 days after COVID-19 is no longer deemed a public health emergency. Let’s demand our leaders do more for us, to stand up for the people who need a little help making ends meet.