Action Alert!

Anti-Hunger Advocacy in 2008

What You Can Do:

Call your State Representative and State Senator immediately and let them know that ending hunger in Pennsylvania is important to you as a person of faith and as a neighbor to those who are hungry, and that you want them to support the appropriations that are part of LAMPa’s “Anti-Hunger Advocacy in 2008” initiative. This is the next step in this advocacy initiative that began with letters to legislators this spring. The following is a model script for your conversations with your legislators or the message you can leave with their staff:

“Ending Hunger in Pennsylvania is important to me as a person of faith and as a neighbor to those who are hungry, and I respectfully request that you (or Representative/Senator _____________) support the following appropriations in the 2008-2009 budget by communicating with legislative leaders negotiating the final budget proposals that these appropriations need to be priorities:

            State Food Purchase Program                              $22,000,000

            Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program                     $ 3,000,000

            PA Agriculture Surplus Program                           $      750,000

            Neighborhood Assistance Program                      $19,000,000

            RX for PA School Food Service                              $   6,043,000

With energy and food prices spiraling ever higher, I am very concerned about the 1.2 million people living in poverty who do not have adequate food. Thank you.”

Contact information for your state senator or representative(s) is easy to find by accessing the LAMPa website at http://www.lamp.org. On the homepage, look for the box labeled “Find Your Elected Officals.” Enter your zip code and click “Find.” Click on the “State” tab. (Depending on where you live, you will need the Zip+4 code to access the information. If you don’t know it, click on the button “Look up Zip+4” at the bottom of the open window.)

If you have time for a third call, please contact Governor Ed Rendell’s office with the same message.

***Please file a post-advocacy report with the LAMPa office by mail, telephone (717) 545-3500, or email (lampa@lamp.org) with the highlights/responses of your advocacy efforts.***

Background:

Next Monday is the General Assembly’s deadline to adopt a state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. As the state budget bills are being negotiated by legislative leaders at this time, it is important that the leaders hear from your legislators that these hunger/food insecurity issues are top priorities as they conclude their work before the summer legislative recess.

For more information, see the Anti-Hunger Advocacy in 2008 Issue Brief on the LAMPa website.

ELCA Policy Base: Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, 1999