Groups Urge Debate Moderators to Push Presidential Candidates on Hunger

Washington, DC, September 9, 2016 — A coalition of 165 anti-hunger and -poverty groups is holding a conference call with the media on Monday, September 12 at 12:00 pm ET to discuss their plans to bring hunger and poverty issues into the presidential campaign.

The Vote to End Hunger coalition is urging the presidential debate moderators to ask the candidates the following question: “If elected, what will you do to end hunger, alleviate poverty, and create opportunity in the U.S. and worldwide?”

On Wednesday, September 14, the coalition will deliver the names of more than 600,000 voters who want ending hunger to be a top election issue to Hofstra University debate moderator Lester Holt. VTEH will also undertake a coordinated social media campaign urging Holt to ask “the hunger question.”

More than 42 million Americans, including 13.1 million children, struggled with hunger in 2015. And close to 47 million Americans – or nearly 15 percent – live in poverty. This includes 15.5 million children and 6.6 million seniors. Yet the candidates have mostly avoided talking about hunger and poverty during the campaign.

Helping hungry people is a compelling political issue to voters no matter their party affiliation. A recent study found that 1 in 3 voters says they will vote for candidates who promise to make ending hunger one of their top priorities.

WHO: Rev. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World

Maxine Thomas, RESULTS Board Member and Expert on Poverty

Rebecca Middleton, Executive Director, Alliance to End Hunger

Gwen O’Shea, President & Chief Executive Officer, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

WHAT: Press conference call on plans to encourage the presidential debate moderators to ask the candidates what they will do about hunger and poverty.          

WHEN: Monday, September 12, 12 p.m. ET

DIAL IN #: 1-800-875-3456

PASSCODE: FORD24856

For more information, contact Chris Ford, media relations manager of Bread for the World at 202-688-1077 or [email protected].

Organizations supporting the Vote to End Hunger coalition include the Alliance to End Hunger, Bread for the World, Feeding America, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Meals on Wheels America, RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund, and Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry.

VotetoEndHunger.org