One in four children in North Carolina is at-risk of hunger. Yet the House of Representatives will soon take up a bill that will cut $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) over 10 years. These cuts are cruel, unjust and immoral, which makes them un-Biblical. There is probably no one in our churches that wants a child to go without food. This message must get through to our elected officials. Charities provided $4 billion in food assistance in 2011, but government nutritional assistance was $98 billion. Charities cannot make up the cuts that Congress is considering.
In the words of J. Herbert Nelson, Director of the Office of Public Witness for PC(USA): “We believe that ‘reconciliation…through Jesus Christ makes it plain that enslaving poverty in a world of abundance is an intolerable violation of God’s good creation.’ This bill is one such intolerable violation. I urge you to vote no on the bill.”
High levels of hunger in our communities touch our hearts and call each of us to action and advocacy. We must call on Congress to set Biblical priorities, taking care of the least among us. We must act now. Tell your Representative to reject a bill that puts hardworking families, low-income children and seniors at-risk of going hungry. Tell them that Congress’ priorities are wrong: We can afford to help feed hungry, hardworking families during temporary times of hardship if we get rid of unnecessary tax breaks for the rich and corporations. Visit the NC Justice Center site for important analysis of our budget priorities.
Use Bread for the World’s toll-free number, 800-826-3688, to be connected to the Capitol switchboard or click here to send an email. A new documentary, “A Place at the Table” shows the persistence of hunger in the United States. Contact Bread for the World’s Rev. LaMarco A. Cable at 202-688-1126 to borrow a copy.
As a faith-filled citizen, write, email or call your representative today and encourage them to say “no to cutting food stamps.”
May the children that are speaking with hunger pains or going to bed hungry have enough in this land of plenty. May their advocates have courage and persistence.
–Sandy Irving, Volunteer Program Associate
The cuts to food stamps is not cruel when you consider how the program has grown the past 5 years. The very real concern with people selling food stamps to fund drug habits, or using them to buy cigarettes and beer are valid. Fraud is rife in the system and that fact makes it imperative act to eliminate the sins of waste, fraud and theft.
FACT: SNAP cannot be used to buy tobacco or alcohol products. For every story of abuse, there are hundreds of hungry families being served. Of course we should reduce fraud and waste. But I don’t understand how anyone can suggest that we stop providing food to hungry people, including children and elderly folks.