Advocate
Sometimes it takes more than food and money to fight hunger. Sometimes it takes a voice to speak up for the hungry. You can be one of those voices. Help us raise awareness about hunger and poverty issues in our state and advocate for legislation that will address these core issues. Together, we really can make a difference.
The Farm Bill: It Affects the Food You Eat and the Food We Give
Domestic food policy is on the table in Washington D.C. with the reauthorization of the Farm Bill due in September 2012. For the first time in history, this life-sustaining piece of feeral legislation coincides with a national election. BOth events will change the landscape of our country.
The Farm Bill was born during the Degression as a way to help struggling framers. Now, it encompasses not only all aspects of agriculture from commodities to conservation, but also creates and funds programs related to nutrition, rural deelopment, produce and farmer's markets.
Changes to the Farm Bill affect the Food Bank directly and indirectly. Last year, the Food Bank received over 6 million pounds of USDA commodities as part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which is administered throught the Farm Bill. Commodities were down 51.3% in February 2012, putting a strain on the Food Bank's food sourcing. Continue cuts to TEFAP in the Farm Bill reauthorizations would have a major impact on the Food Bank's warehouse supply.
Slashing benefits for Oklahomans in the Supplmental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the SEniors Famers' Market Nutrition Program would not only increase demand on already strained service organizations, but take away more meals from the talbes of already struggling Oklahomans.
Trimming or eliniating initiatives that provide fresh produce to schools, promote nutrition education and encourage rural development are also couinterproductive to the Food Bank's mission to end food insecurity in Eastern Oklahoma.
We are asking our neighbors, supporters and our decison maekrs to become engaged in the discusion of the Farm Bill. The next Farm Bill field hearings will take place:
Friday, March 23, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. CDT in Galesburg, IL
Friday, March 30, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. CDT in State University, AR 72467
Friday, April 20, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. CDT in Dodge City, KS 67801
The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma encourages our community to view the public hearings by webcast or audio at http://agriculture.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=70&LSBID=71|72|73
You can also contact your local legislator here.
For a sample letter on the Farm Bill to use for your local legislator, click here.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Let Congress know what you think on the FARM BILL
Your Comments Can Make A Difference - Sample Comment Below
Last year the Food Bank distributed more than 6.3 Million Pounds of commodities to our Partner Programs through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This vital program, which is the lifeline for so many of our Partner Programs, is supported by the FARM Bill. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is also a major component of the FARM Bill. Last year, SNAP benefits provided a record number of Oklahoma families access to healthy, nutritious food. With static wages and skyrocketing food and fuel costs, the SNAP Program continues to fill the food budget gap for so many of our neighbors who are still reeling from the recession.
The FARM Bill directly impacts the Food Bank and those it serves; and this critical legislation is due for reauthorization this year. But we can be a part of the process! The House Agriculture Committee is collecting public input about the FARM Bill through May 20, 2012. Make our vision of food security a part of the permanent Congressional record. Simply go to the website http://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill_feedback.html, fill out the information and complete the Comments Section.
Here is a suggested response, but feel free to express your own ideas.
I am [INSERT TITLE] at the [INSERT NAME OF PROGRAM]. With traditional food streams declining and a recession still lingering, we continue to find it difficult to meet the demands for food assistance, despite the overwhelming support from our community. We need a strong FARM Bill to make sure that we can put food on the table for those that are still struggling. I ask that you pass a FARM Bill that protects and strengthens nutrition programs like TEFAP and SNAP. These programs provide a lifeline to more than 600,000 food insecure Oklahomans, including 240,740 children at risk of going to bed hungry tonight. I urge you to make them a priority in the next FARM Bill.