Feeding Illinois is working to end hunger in our community. This work requires all of us to let decision-makers know that we want them to stand up for those who need food. Join people across the country in speaking up for vital anti-hunger programs for low-income individuals and families.
This is a significant moment in the debate on federal deficit reduction. Last week, Senator Richard Lugar and Congressman Marlin Stutzman introduced the REFRESH Act, proposing major reforms and $40 billion in savings within agriculture programs, including a potentially devastating $14 billion cut to nutrition programs. This proposal comes on the heels of a Farm Bureau proposal that recommends that 30% of any cuts to agriculture programs be taken from nutrition.
If nutrition safety net programs are not safeguarded in the deficit reduction plan, this would lead to even more hungry people, particularly children, seniors and the working poor. Programs like TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), which provides high-quality, nutritious food to food banks for distribution; CSFP(Commodity Supplemental Food Program), which provides a nutritionally appropriate box of food for low-income seniors; SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program), which provides households with monthly benefits via a grocery debit card; and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), which serves low-income women, infants and children younger than 5 who are at nutritional risk, are essential to the well-being of our nation.
Your Members of Congress can influence the direction of deficit reduction talks. Make a difference TODAY by calling your Members of Congress to deliver this important message:
“Hi, my name is ________ and I am from (city, state). With the need for food assistance at unprecedented levels, I urge you to protect federal nutrition safety net programs like TEFAP, SNAP, CSFP and WIC in the deficit reduction plan. Please reject proposals that would increase hunger and harm vulnerable populations in our communities.”
Call today! Dial 1-877-698-8228 to be connected directly to Senators Durbin and Kirk and your Representative. Your voice is needed to show Congress that people care about our nation’s investment in anti-hunger programs.
