Issue Brief
Anti-Hunger Advocacy in 2009
Background
Hunger is a persistent problem in
Pennsylvania,
in the United States and across the globe.
In November 2008 the US Department of
Agriculture reported that 423,000 households
in Pennsylvania had “very low food
security”, an increase from 2007. The same
report indicated that 12% of households were
“food insecure” (lack of access to
sufficient food to meet nutritional needs).
Demands on local food pantries are rising,
yet the availability of food products to
food banks and pantries is shrinking.
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania
(LAMPa) -- in coalition with
the
Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (PHAC) and
the
Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food
Banks (PARF) -- supports increased funding
for Pennsylvania’s hunger safety net which
includes the following six key food and
nutrition programs that serve low-income
families, children and senior citizens:
-
State Food Purchase Program
provides grants to all 67 counties for
the purchase of foods and nutritional
supplements, for critical transportation
and infrastructure needs, and to cover
the charges associated with accessing
federal food commodities. It is an
essential tool for Pennsylvania’s food
banks and food pantries in the effort to
provide for our most vulnerable
citizens.
-
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
serves two important goals: good health
for Pennsylvania seniors and WIC
families, and higher sales by
Pennsylvania fruit and vegetable
farmers. Operating from June to
November, this program increases the
sales of farmers engaged in direct
marketing, teaches nutritious eating
habits to young families and helps
175,000 seniors to stay healthy by
eating fresh produce.
-
Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System
is a new partnership of the PA
Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania
Association of Regional Food Banks, and
the agricultural community. Benefits to
the farmers include: avoiding high costs
of landfill disposal, creating positive
public relations, increasing new market
potential, and reducing overhead cost.
Food banks would have access to more
fresh nutritious Pennsylvania-grown
produce to help our neighbors in need.
-
Neighborhood Assistance Program
is not a grant program, but an
“incentive” program that provides tax
credits to corporations that make
contributions to approved programs. Any
business or industry subject to the
Pennsylvania corporate net income tax,
gross premiums tax, bank & trust company
shares tax, title insurance shares,
capital stock or foreign franchise tax
may receive a 55% tax credit on eligible
contributions to approved NAP projects.
The Pennsylvania Charitable Food Network
receives millions of dollars of donated
food through NAP each year.
ELCA
Policy Base
(Sufficient,
Sustainable Livelihood for All, 1999)
“God’s mandate is clear. ‘Is not this the
fast that I chose: to loose the bonds of
injustice…and to break every yoke? Is it
not to share your bread with the hungry…?
(Isaiah 58:6-7).’ God’s lavish, justifying
grace frees us from self-serving
preoccupations and calls us to a life of
mutual generosity as we relate to all who
are our neighbors.” (p. 11) And Martin
Luther, states that “if you see anyone
suffer hunger and do not feed [them], you
have let [them] starve” (p. 5). Therefore,
as Christians, and as Lutherans, we are
called to be involved in fighting against
hunger and its root causes.
What
You Can Do:
•
Tell your legislators that ending hunger in
Pennsylvania is important to you, both as a
person of faith and as a citizen of
Pennsylvania. Urge them to support
increased funding for the six programs
outlined above.
•
Lead the effort in your congregation to
collect signatures form LAMPa’s Anti-Hunger
in 2009 letter campaign. See
www.lamp.org for more details or LAMPa’s
Anti-Hunger in 2009 instruction sheet.
• Make sure your state Senator and
Representative are aware of the bi-partisan
Hunger Caucus in the General Assembly led by
Sen. Mike Brubaker (R) & Rep. John Myers
(D). You can also visit the
Hunger Caucus website at http://senatorbrubaker.com/hungercaucus.htm
May 2009
