October 2010 RESULTS Domestic Conference Call: Ending Child Hunger in America
Congress has adjourned until after the November election, but there is still much work to be done. The child nutrition bill that does not take resources from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program). Our guest speaker on the call was Ellen Teller, director of government affairs at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Ellen overviewed the latest developments in Congress’ work on child nutrition and discussed actions we can take to advocate for a strong child nutrition bill. RESULTS Texas volunteer Kathleen Duncan then helped us put the information to practice by reviewing the October laser talk: Congress Should Pass a Strong Child Nutrition Bill. In addition, RESULTS Development Director Donna Howard offered her expertise on why our grassroots fundraising work matters and the resources in the Friends and Family Letter Writing Toolkit.
TAKE ACTION: Take the October Action. Use this time during the recess to contact members of Congress and urge them to pass the strongest child nutrition bill without cutting SNAP to fund it. Write letters to your representatives and senators using our action sheet, but don’t stop there. Use public appearances and meetings during the recess to put this issue in front of legislators. Congress may think it can simply raid public service programs for money without objection or consequence, but we know better. We cannot stand by and say nothing, otherwise this will just be the first of many attempts to pit anti-poverty advocates against one another all the while undermining our civic responsibility to care for those in need. If you cannot call, be sure to send an e-mail to your members of Congress.