I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the rising level of food insecurity in our state. Feeding America's adjusted Map the Meal Gap research shows that food insecurity rates in Virginia increased in 2020 by 32% overall and by 49% for children. This important research shows that many of our neighbors are struggling with food insecurity and may not know where their next meal will come from. As their representative in Congress, you can do something about it. Food banks, churches, and pantries are doing great work in our community to provide food assistance, but the charitable response alone is not enough to meet the need. Given the associated healthcare, educational, and economic costs of hunger and poor nutrition, this is an issue that we cannot ignore. I am asking that you work with your fellow lawmakers to strengthen federal nutrition programs, especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which continues to be an important first line of defense against food insecurity for many and has become particularly critical during this period of acute need. Additional relief programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), School Lunch and School Breakfast, and other programs also help struggling families put food on the table and promote access to critical resources for citizens. Please visit Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore at foodbankonline.org to learn more and consider scheduling an “edu-tour” at a local Virginia food bank or partner agency to see first-hand the impacts of hunger in our community.

I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the rising level of food insecurity in our state. As a Member of Congress, you are in a unique position to help Virginians struggling with food insecurity by supporting funding for federal hunger-relief programs and bringing attention to the great work being done in our state to fight hunger. When you visit a Virginia food bank, you begin to see the scope of the problem, as well as the importance and effectiveness of the partnership between government and charity. SNAP benefits provides 9 meals for every 1 meal provided by a Virginia food bank. Additionally each $1.00 spent using SNAP benefits generates approximately $1.50 in economic activity. When you visit a Virginia food bank, that’s not all you see. You also see the faces of those in our community who are counting on you. Food banks and other charities can't solve the problem of hunger alone, which is why your role as a federal legislator is so important. I am asking you to schedule a visit to a food bank to see these programs in operation and learn about how you can strengthen them as a Member of Congress. Visit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore’s website at foodbankonline.org.

I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the rising level of food insecurity in our state. Feeding America's adjusted Map the Meal Gap research shows that food insecurity rates in Virginia increased in 2020 by 32% overall and by 49% for children. This important research shows that many of our neighbors are struggling with food insecurity and may not know where their next meal will come from. As their representative in Congress, you can do something about it. Food banks, churches, and pantries are doing great work in our community to provide food assistance, but the charitable response alone is not enough to meet the need. Given the associated healthcare, educational, and economic costs of hunger and poor nutrition, this is an issue that we cannot ignore. I am asking that you work with your fellow lawmakers to strengthen federal nutrition programs, especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which continues to be an important first line of defense against food insecurity for many and has become especially critical during this period of acute need. Additional relief programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), School Lunch and School Breakfast, and other programs also help struggling families put food on the table and promote access to critical resources for citizens. Please visit Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore at foodbankonline.org to learn more and consider scheduling an “edu-tour” at a local Virginia food bank or partner agency to see first-hand the impacts of hunger in our community.

I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the rising level of food insecurity in Virginia. As a Member of Congress, you are in a unique position to help Virginians struggling with food insecurity by supporting funding for federal hunger-relief programs and bringing attention to the great work being done in our state to fight hunger. When you visit a Virginia food bank, you begin to see the scope of the problem, as well as the importance and effectiveness of the partnership between government and charity. SNAP benefits provides 9 meals for every 1 meal provided by a Virginia food bank. Additionally each $1.00 spent using SNAP benefits generates approximately $1.50 in economic activity. When you visit a Virginia food bank, that’s not all you see. You also see the faces of those in our community who are counting on you. Food banks and other charities can't solve the problem of hunger alone, which is why your role as a federal legislator is so important. I am asking you to schedule a visit to a food bank to see these programs in operation and learn about how you can strengthen them as a Member of Congress. Visit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore’s website at foodbankonline.org.

I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the rising level of food insecurity and the unprecedented increases in demand for food assistance that food banks are continuing to see. Food banks, churches, and pantries are doing great work in our community to provide food assistance, but the charitable response alone is not enough to meet the need. As a Member of Congress, you are in a unique position to help Virginians struggling with food insecurity by supporting funding for federal hunger-relief programs. We urge you to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for all recipients by increasing the thrifty food plan by at least 15 percent for as long as the economy is weak to help promote economic stimulus and push against the economic downturn. This will provide critical food resources for families and relieve some of the pressure on food banks and other charitable organizations. Sustain increased funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to assist with additional food and food storage and distribution costs, and delay the implementation of any pending SNAP rules that would limit program eligibility and benefits. SNAP benefits provides 9 meals for every 1 meal provided by a Virginia food bank. In this time of extreme need, I urge you to increase SNAP benefits and strengthen TEFAP to feed the rising number of children, seniors and Virginia families struggling with hunger. You can also visit a local Virginia food bank. Learn more from the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore at foodbankonline.org.

I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the rising level of food insecurity and the unprecedented increases in demand for food assistance that food banks are continuing to see. Food banks, churches, and pantries are doing great work in our community to provide food assistance, but the charitable response alone is not enough to meet the need. As a Member of Congress, you are in a unique position to help Virginians struggling with food insecurity by supporting funding for federal hunger-relief programs. We urge you to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for all recipients by increasing the thrifty food plan by at least 15 percent for as long as the economy is weak to help promote economic stimulus and push against the economic downturn. This will provide critical food resources for families and relieve some of the pressure on food banks. Sustain increased funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to assist with additional food and food storage and distribution costs, and delay the implementation of any pending SNAP rules that would limit program eligibility and benefits. SNAP benefits provides 9 meals for every 1 meal provided by a Virginia food bank. In this time of extreme need, I urge you to increase SNAP benefits and strengthen TEFAP to feed the rising number of children, seniors and Virginia families struggling with hunger. You can also visit a local Virginia food bank. Learn more from the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore at foodbankonline.org.