Hunger Relief in Action!
Feeding America Wants to Hear Your Story
Your voice can help us communicate the big picture to our elected officials! The Administration and Congressional leadership have asked for feedback and we want to give it to them.
Have the increased funds from the Economic Stimulus Package improved the outlook for hungry Americans in your area? What can your experiences tell us?
Share your story with Feeding America!
How the Economic Stimulus Package is Filling the Need
On February 17, President Obama signed the $787 billion Economic Stimulus Package—a big day for everyone involved in Feeding America, because emergency hunger relief programs received much needed funds at a time when the demand for assistance was rising sharply.
What additional funds have been allocated to help feed hungry Americans?
- An additional $150 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). That is equal to 110 million pounds of food that will make its way into the Feeding America network of food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens over the next 18 months.
- An additional $19.9 billion in funds for the SNAP (Food Stamp) program.
- An additional $500 million for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
The $150 million for TEFAP provides much needed commodities to help food banks deal with the rising need for food assistance across the country. All the way back in December, food banks reported an estimated 30% increase in demand, with 72% of food banks saying they were unable to adequately meet the needs of their communities. (Feeding America Local Impact Survey, 2008). Those numbers are likely even higher right now. During difficult economic times, federal commodities are critical to ensuring food banks can continue to serve their communities. For instance, the New York City Food Bank—the largest in the country—will receive about $6 million more in food this year thanks to the Stimulus Package. And just in time! The Food Bank anticipates that 3.5 million people will require food assistance in 2009, with two million of those served being first-time clients. (CNNMoney.com, David Goldman, February 24, 2009.)
It is important that elected officials hear from their constituents about how these hunger relief programs are helping the millions of Americans struggling with hunger every day. We urge you to tell us your story, in your own words, about what is really happening in your community. As additional hunger funds are reaching your state, do you see a difference? Are the increased funds helping fill the gaps? Are you seeing improvement?
We hope you’ll share your story—tell us what positive impacts you are experiencing. Your voice can help leaders not only determine the overall impact of the Economic Recovery Package, but also decide where the funds have been most effective and what more needs to be done to make sure that every hungry American has food to put on the table during these tough economic times.
Share your story today!
You Can Help Stamp Out Hunger!
Feeding America is excited to join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) for their 17th annual Stamp Out Hunger! food drive on Saturday, May 9. Stamp Out Hunger! is the nation’s largest single-day food drive—since its inception in 1993, letter carriers have collected more than 909 million pounds of food!
While last year’s drive was a huge success, garnering a record 73.1 million pounds of food, hungry Americans need your support more than ever before. With one in eight Americans struggling with hunger, and our nation’s food banks shouldering the burden of a troubled economy, this food drive couldn’t come at a better time.
How can you help Stamp Out Hunger?
On Saturday, May 9, just leave a sturdy bag containing nonperishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables and fruits, pasta, rice, or cereal next to your mailbox prior to the time of your regular mail delivery. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes or cans.
Your letter carriers—some 230,000 strong—will collect donations from homes across the country and deliver them to members of the Feeding America network and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 local communities.
Other sponsors of Stamp Out Hunger! include:
- U.S. Postal Service
- Valpak
- AFL-CIO
- United Way of America
- Campbell’s Soup Company, which will donate 1 million pounds of food to food banks nationwide and is sponsoring a reminder postcard mailing sent to 120 million homes.
For more information about the Stamp Out Hunger! effort in your community, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office, or visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.
We hope you’ll join us on May 9 to Stamp Out Hunger!