Government and hunger

A great article in the latest issue of the Mazon* newsletter on government accountability in the work to end hunger.  Author Mia Hubbard's key points are:

• Lawmakers and government officials should highlight what SNAP has accomplished rather than trying to obsure the facts.
• Politicians should act in alignment with the polls - both our local poll here in greater Hartford and national polls tell us that the public thinks SNAP funding should stay the same or increase, not be cut.
• Government officials would make improvements to SNAP where those opportunities exist.
• Politicians would talk about the real costs of their proposals - it's not just a cut of any amount, it's food taken out of the mouths of children and senior citizens.
• Government would understand the respective roles of charity and government programs.  Charity cannot do it alone.

A recent poll conducted by Foodshare in greater Hartford shows overwhelming support
for the same or increased government funding of anti-hunger programs.

*  Founded in 1985, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and alleviating hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.  MAZON, which means “food” or “sustenance” in Hebrew, was the first national organization to rally the American Jewish community around the issue of hunger, and remains the only national Jewish organization dedicated exclusively to that same cause. MAZON recognizes the importance of both responding to hungry peoples’ immediate need for nutrition and sustenance and working to develop and advance long-term solutions.