Blog
April 2023 Food for Thought
Advocacy postcards through our Food for Thought program are back! We have sample messages to elected officials, blank postcards, and stamps waiting and ready to go at Extraordinary Ventures during our sort dates. If you are coming to volunteer or to drop off donated food, please feel welcome to join as you can (this time or in the future – the messaging changes each month). There will be a table set up with postcards and someone on hand to walk you through postcard writing if you’re new to it – it’s super easy! The time commitment is less than 5 minutes for a postcard. Let our legislators and other elected officials know that we are paying attention and that we insist they enact policies that prioritize our most vulnerable neighbors.
Want to write a postcard from home? Go for it! Our sample messaging for this month is below. (Note: If you would rather email or call your elected officials, feel free! We encourage you to reach out in whatever way is most comfortable.)
Once you have contacted your elected officials, we ask that you fill out this brief form to let us know that you have done so. It will only take a minute. This helps us to measure our impact! Thank you!
Dear Senator/Representative [NAME],
Despite SNAP’s excellent track record of reducing poverty and stimulating local economies, benefits were cut last month. Please support children, seniors, and hardworking families: Maximize SNAP funding in the 2023 Farm Bill.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Addresses:
- Senator Thom Tillis
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
2. Representative Valerie Foushee
1716 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
If you don’t live in Rep. Foushee’s district, find your rep here.
3. Senator Ted Budd
SR-B85 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
BACKGROUND:
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical lifeline for approximately 40 million low-income people across the United States. SNAP has a long and successful history of providing temporary help that reduces food insecurity, lifts people out of poverty, helps families achieve self-sufficiency, and reduces health disparities. Nearly two-thirds of SNAP participants are children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Cuts to the program would have far-reaching ramifications and may disproportionately affect groups like children of color and children in rural communities. Any reforms to SNAP should be driven by analysis of impacts on access, equity, cost, and program outcomes including food security, financial security, and diet quality.