American households who receive aid from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps, saw a huge cut in their benefits on Nov. 1, 2013. What this means is that many families with young children are having to do without adequate food and sustenance especially during this holiday season.

According to an article in “USATODAY,” as many as 47 million Americans are affected by the November cuts, and 2.3 million children in California would be severely impacted.

In 2009, the SNAP program was infused with additional funding as part of the Economic Recovery Act and out of concern that the economic slowdown left many people without a reliable source of income and food.

Despite numerous efforts to keep the funding at the same or reasonable level, the funding has been cut severely.

The reduction comes to about 5.5 percent of the benefit, and the amount of the decrease depends on the size of the household. For example, for a family of one, the cut is $11 monthly. For a family of two, the cut is $20 each month.

For families of three, the cut will be $29 a month or $319 for the remaining months of fiscal year 2014, from November 2013 through September 2014. For a family with four individuals, the reduction amount is $36.

This may seem like an insignificant amount to a good number of Americans, but to families that depend on these resources, it is a difference between life and death. It is immoral that we are balancing the budget on the backs of vulnerable children and that we are forcing our children to do without basic food and necessities. We must all act to urge Congress to restore this funding — for all our children and the future of our nation. We must also reach deep into our own reserves to give to those in need and help struggling families have decent holiday celebrations.

Hard to believe, but the average SNAP benefit, unless something is done to restore the Recovery Act’s boost, will average less than $1.40 per person per meal. Nation wide, the reduction is projected to save $5 billion in fiscal year 2014.

Meanwhile, the number of American children living below the poverty line has been on the rise, with 16.4 million or nearly 22.6 percent of all of our children falling into that category, according to information on the National Center for Children in Poverty website. Additionally, the percentage of poor children has increased 4.5 percent since the Great Recession began in 2007.

According to a report released by the Food Research and Action Center in September, Fresno is the fifth hungriest city in the nation. This means that the cuts will affect Fresno residents much harder now that the need is so much bigger than other California cities.

Yes, economic reports show an improvement in the economy, but many families are still in desperate need of the assistance that SNAP provides. In its absence or diminished form, children from needy families are put in jeopardy of malnutrition among other problems.

As the holiday season approaches, we must all rethink our priorities as they apply to other people. The holidays are sacred — a time for families to come together and share love and common bonds. We have always associated holidays with abundant foods.

This year in particular, we must stand firm with those who will have to do with less — whether it is about not having enough to eat, or needing warm clothes for the bad weather or people unemployed or underemployed.

It is important to help the many organizations in the area who are collecting food and other supplies as the weather begins to get rough. These may include food banks, churches and even private businesses all around Fresno. While the issue of food scarcity is one that is always mentioned during the holidays, the cuts to the government program are exacerbating the issue even further this winter.

These government cuts will place a bigger strain on food banks and other charity organizations which may be already stretched too thin.

This year more than ever, it is imperative to donate food, clothes and even money to these organizations.

It’s all in our hands whether our fellow Fresnans enjoy the traditions that we’ve long associated with the holiday season in America. It’s unlikely Congress can do anything that would make a difference this year, but we can, through our donations to several organizations, help those who need help the most.

Let’s spread the holiday spirit to those who are truly in need.