Make a Call to Protect Hungry People this World Food Day

With many decisions to be made in Washington about the budget, the debt ceiling, and how to end the government shutdown, this Wednesday, October 16, is World Food Day, a day to bring attention to food insecurity, and nutrition here in the U.S. and around the world. 
Hunger and malnutrition do not wait for a budget deal – they put our most vulnerable populations at risk now.

In any final decisions about government spending – we must prioritize programs that save lives and protect those living in poverty.

Congress must protect poverty-focused programs here and abroad!

• SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) effectively and efficiently helps more than 47 million low-income Americans put food on the table.  As unemployment and poverty have remained high, the number of families at risk of hunger has not increased since 2008.
• 3.1 million preventable child deaths are attributed to malnutrition – that’s almost half of all child deaths each year. Simple solutions like promoting breastfeeding and providing micronutrients in the thousand days from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday have been proven to save lives.

On World Food Day, make a call to your members of Congress to let them know you want Congress to end cuts to SNAP and to protect global poverty and global health programs that protect our most vulnerable. Here are tips on how to call and you can reach Congress toll-free at (800) 826-3688  ** Some offices have limited staff with the shutdown, so calling though to an aide that handles the Farm Bill or Foreign Affairs may not be possible, but you will likely still be able to leave a message with the front desk. **

Sample Script:

My name is __________ and I’m a constituent in Rep. __________’s district. As Congress debates their next steps in funding our government, it is important to remember that every night in the U.S. 1 in 5 American children is at risk of going to sleep hungry and every year 3.1 million child deaths around the world are attributed to malnutrition. Fortunately, SNAP (formerly food stamps) and global health investments are keeping hunger at bay for millions and we cannot afford to undermine these efforts. Hunger and malnutrition don’t wait for a budget deal and we can’t continue to put our most vulnerable at risk. 


• Push for a budget deal that replaces sequestration with a balanced plan and adequately funds programs serving those in poverty.

• Please weigh in with Farm Bill negotiators and urge them to reject the House SNAP cuts and to protect and strengthen SNAP in any final Farm Bill or other legislation, and;

• Also weigh in with leadership on appropriations to protect global poverty-focused development assistance and global health programs in budget negotiations.

If you are unable to call or can’t get through, send an email to Senators to protect SNAP and urge House members to scale up child nutrition funding around the world.

Thank you for taking action with RESULTS!