This year, the USDA has cut funding for Local Food for Schools program, and has also canceled the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which funded about $500 million annually for food banks. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, food insecurity is associated with poor dietary quality and an increased risk of diet-related diseases, as well as certain types of cancer. In 2023, The Lakeshore reported that in Ottawa County there were 25,130 food insecure residents, including 4,950 food insecure children.

Locally, Feeding America provides food for both the Community Action House Food Club and Kids’ Food Basket—two community cornerstones for hunger relief.

Feeding America is asking people to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to not make cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They have made this request easy by providing a message that you can completely personalize as you would like. Once you’ve provided your contact information, you can send your message to your senators and representatives with a single click.

Please consider visiting FeedingAmerica.org and clicking the Take Action button to urge your representatives in Congress to protect SNAP.