We need help from the agency network! Negotiations over the Farm Bill are intensifying in Congress. The timeline is uncertain, but the threat of devastating cuts and eligibility changes to SNAP are well known. To push back, Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, and the Washington Food Coalition, along with others want to partner with you on a statewide campaign to protect SNAP and related basic needs programs.
Local agencies and food banks play a critical role in amplifying stories about the importance of SNAP in their community—in particular, in congressional districts served by Reps. Herrera Beutler, Newhouse, and Reichert.
Please help by responding to calls to action—likely messaging members of congress, adding client testimonials, signing on to joint letters, and community organizing.
More details on advocacy efforts affecting hunger relief:
- The Washington state legislative session ended positively for many state food assistance and basic needs programs. Notably, schools will be equipped to serve more meals to kids. Bills passed to encourage “breakfast after the bell” in high-needs schools, retrofit kitchens, address school meal debt, and improve how schools identify and qualify kids for meal programs. Note: Please notify parents and school-related organizations or programs to encourage school participation with these new provisions.
- Grassroots advocacy: We want to work with you, our agency partners, to help build advocacy capacity to solve hunger problems, protect successful safety-net programs, and secure new investments for hunger relief efforts. Please let us know who to contact about advocacy and how we can work well together: advocacy@foodlifeline.org. To join our advocacy list, go to: foodlifeline.org/how-to-help/speak-out
