VIEWPOINT | Hungry families shouldn’t be a political bargaining chip

Guest column by RF Buche

I’ve spent my entire life in grocery stores. I am a fourth-generation grocer and president & CEO of GF Buche Co., a family business that has operated in rural and tribal communities for 120 years. Some of our customers are the poorest people in the United States and live in the most remote areas of South Dakota. I know the role local grocers play in our communities.

And right now, that need is growing.

The government shutdown has thrown the future of SNAP benefits into uncertainty for November. Families are anxious, wondering if and when they’ll be able to put food on the table next month. Children should not be burdened with this fear, nor should they sense the stress of parents deciding whether to skip meals. Even if benefits do land, the scheduled cuts coming in 2026 keep me up at night. Because I know exactly who will pay that price.