Advocate for Change:

Nutrition Safety Net Threatened

Poverty & Hunger at Highest Levels

The economic recession and slow recovery have taken a tremendous toll on Rhode Islanders.  At 14% the state now has the highest poverty rate in New England.  Since poverty is the root cause of hunger, more families living in poverty results in greater demand for food assistance. The rate of food insecurity in Rhode Island increased significantly following the economic recession, rising from 10.9% in 2007 to 14.7% in 2010.

The Food Bank’s statewide network of emergency food pantries now feeds 60,000 people each month.  This is 58% more people than just four years ago.  But the number of emergency food programs in Rhode Island has not gone up, so these programs are straining to keep up with record levels of need.

SNAP is a Vital Resource

With declining household income, many more families are also eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  Enrollment in SNAP has increased dramatically, growing from 79,000 people in 2007 to over 165,000 people today.  SNAP benefits are now the primary source of food and meals for low-income families in Rhode Island.

Help Us Stop Cuts to the Nutrition Safety Net

While thousands of Rhode Islanders depend on emergency food programs and SNAP to feed their families, Congress is shredding the nutrition safety net in America.  In April 2011, Congress reduced federal grants for emergency food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters by 40%.  Now Congress is considering cutting funding for SNAP and converting it into a “block grant” program.  If enacted, these proposals would throw millions of people out of the program and reduce already inadequate benefit levels.

You can help.  Please write to members of our Congressional Delegation and ask them to restore federal Emergency Food and Shelter grants that were cut in April 2011.  Also, urge them to oppose any proposals that would weaken SNAP and cut its funding.

Click here for a sample advocacy letter and to the list of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegates.

For more information, read the 2011 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island.