New York (March 12, 2020) – Noreen Springstead, executive director, WhyHunger, issued the following statement regarding the food security bills that are being included in a package of emergency legislation the House is introducing today to deal with the impact of the coronavirus:
“In these uncertain times, it is critical that underserved communities and the 37 million Americans who struggle with food insecurity have support. The provisions introduced today are a positive step in ensuring that low-income children, working people, seniors and families get access to nutritious meals during this crisis. Expanding SNAP, creating alternative ways to get meals to kids while school is out and emergency paid leave are all steps in the right direction. We know from experience working with hundreds of food banks and pantries across the U.S. that offering additional funds to food banks now will be essential in allowing them to continue to serve as important frontline hubs for emergency response in communities and provide the support and resources to respond.
It is important that our nation’s politicians come together in this moment of crisis to act on behalf of those who we know will be hardest hit, both now and long after the coronavirus crisis passes. As the true vulnerability of so many Americans struggling with hunger and poverty gets illuminated, we hope the public and political resolve for true reform to address the inequities and root causes of hunger will be strengthened. We should be able to marshal the power of the federal government to move the 37 million people struggling with hunger out of poverty and ensure the basic human right of access to nutritious food.”
The WhyHunger Hotline refers people in need across the U.S. to food pantries, soup kitchens, meals sites, government nutrition programs and grassroots organizations, especially those that provide access to nutritious foods and nutritional support services. The WhyHunger hotline is open and available to those looking for support during the COVID-19 outbreak. Call 1(800) 5-HUNGRY, visit whyhunger.org/FindFood or text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479 to locate a local emergency food provider and other support services.
About WhyHunger
Founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayres, WhyHunger believes a world without hunger is possible. We provide critical resources to support grassroots movements and fuel community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial and economic justice. A four-star rated charity by Charity Navigator, WhyHunger is working to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world. Learn more at whyhunger.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
