As of 2020, Virginia’s food insecurity rate stood at 7.7%. That means that over 658,000 people in our state had to worry where their next meal would come from on any given day. Fortunately, there are programs in place to help families facing challenges accessing healthy, affordable food. But only if we continue to raise our voices and let policy makers know these programs matter.
One of the major pieces of legislation that directs funding for domestic food security programs, commonly called the Farm bill, is scheduled to be reauthorized by the U.S. Congress in 2023. No legislation has more impact than a Farm bill on the US food system and the nation’s ability to provide healthy food at affordable prices to everyone.
Virginia has a lot to gain from a farm bill legislated with these priorities in mind.
- In 2021, 9% of Virginia residents were helped by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which will be reconsidered as part of the Farm bill.
- Roughly 269,300 workers in Virginia live in households that participated in SNAP in 2021.
- SNAP helps 1 in 15 workers in Virginia put food on the table.
- 69% of SNAP participants were in families with children, and 35% in families with members who are older adults or are disabled.
- 72% of all SNAP-eligible people in Virginia participate in the program.
Action is urgently needed to help shape the legislative discussion. the Virginia Synod Hunger Team is asking every congregation to hold an offering of letters addressed to your elected officials in Washington to let them know how important reauthorization of the Farm bill is for our state, particularly funding for SNAP.
Below are links to resources to guide your offering of letters provided by Bread for the World, an interfaith hunger advocacy organization that many of our Synod members belong to. Letters are requested ideally before June 8th although any letter at any time this summer will be critical.
Farm Bill Offering of Letters Bulletin Insert
Sample Letter to Congress
