FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Over 500,000 Kids’ Food Access Threatened by SNAP Rule
Call to Public to Take Action This Hunger Action Month by Contacting Legislators, And More
Philadelphia, PA (September 4, 2019) — As kids facing hunger go back to school this month, their access to free and reduced-price school meals is in jeopardy due to a proposed rule from the United States Department of Agriculture. Outside of Philadelphia county, the proposed rule will effectively cut children in need off from school meals. It would also revoke states’ option to slowly taper recipients and their children off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits instead of halting them abruptly when a recipient begins earning slightly more or is able to save a needed cushion. Changing this SNAP rule will take critical food assistance away from over 3 million people nationally who are struggling to make ends meet and 500,000 children receiving school meals because their parents receive SNAP.
School breakfast and lunch play a crucial role in filling kids’ meal gap and ensuring their health and success. According to Feeding America, kids who are hungry are more likely than their classmates who consistently have enough to eat to repeat a grade, to fall behind developmentally, and to struggle socially and emotionally.
While Philabundance and partners will continue to provide emergency food to the 700,000+ people facing hunger, they collectively cannot make up the difference of the SNAP program. This September is Hunger Action Month, a time for the public to take action to fight hunger by donating time, money, food or resources, as well as to advocate to the government for continued access to nutrition assistance FOR ALL.
The public can take action this month by:
• Helping save SNAP benefits by submitting a comment on the USDA’s proposed rule by September 23. The USDA must listen to all feedback and must review every unique comment to determine whether or not to move this rule forward.
• “Texting to give” to Philabundance by sending “donate2feed” to 44321. Every dollar donated to Philabundance helps provide two meals for someone in need – whether that person is a parent looking to put dinner on the table, or a child receiving nutritious food through our kids’ BackPack program.
• Dining out. Throughout September Revivalist Botanical Gin will host pop-up bars; cocktails are pay-what-you-wish and proceeds benefit Philabundance:
o September 6 and 7: Elwood, 1007 Frankford Avenue
o September 13 and 14: Branzino, 261 S 17th Street
o September 20 and 21: on point, 1200 Point Breeze Avenue
o September 27 and 28: A Mano, 2244 Fairmont Avenue
Valued Philabundance partners and events supporting Hunger Action Month include:
• Anti-hunger transit, print, and digital ads featuring Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola and Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson have been created to raise awareness and to support the fight against hunger. These star-studded ads were generously produced and developed by The Creative Engagement Group, an international integrated communications agency, with offices in Philadelphia since 2013. Look for the ads on television and on SEPTA buses and trains and in SEPTA stations across the city. View the print ad. Videos to be released Friday, September 6.
• On September 18, to thanks its partners for their hard work feeding their communities, Philabundance will host an Agency Appreciation brunch, bringing together leaders of its 350 member agencies at the Simeone Museum; through their partnership, Philabundance distributes more than 28 million pounds of food a year. Members of media are welcome to attend the 9:30 event, which will include an awards presentation.
• On September 19, Starbucks representatives will volunteer in the Philabundance warehouse as part of the coffee retailer’s ongoing support to help fight hunger. This summer, Starbucks began donating quality, unsold food that would otherwise go to waste to Philabundance and our partners; to date, they’ve donated over 36,000 pounds of food through that program and over 40,000 pounds in total.
Finally, for those looking for a second chance, Philabundance Community Kitchen will hold open houses on September 5, 12, 19 and 26 to recruit new students for its 14-week culinary arts job training program for adults with low- to no-income.
Learn more about Hunger Action Month on our website: https://www.philabundance.org/HAM.
Contact Lisa Ryan, Public Relations Associate at Philabundance, at lryan@philabundance.org or 724-259-3524 x 1155 to schedule an interview or attend any event listed.
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