The The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts writes:

TAKE ACTION AGAINST HUNGER AND STIMULATE THE ECONOMY!

Call your Representative and Senators TODAY. Urge them to vote “yes” to pass the current economic recovery package. Tell them the nation needs it!

The plan includes: an important boost in Food Stamp benefits – now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – and additional funding for food assistance to food banks like The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Call toll-free at (866) 544-7573.  If the line is busy, call their district offices:

• Senator Edward Kennedy (617) 565-3170
• Senator John Kerry  (413) 785-4610
• Representative John Olver (413) 532-7010
• Representative Richard Neal (413) 785-0325

THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE WILL INVEST:

• $19.9 billion for increased SNAP/Food Stamps spending. (Approximately 97,000 western Massachusetts residents received a total of $210 million in federal benefits in 2008.)
• $150 million to purchase food commodities and cover operating funds for food banks across the country. (The Food Bank provided more than 5 million meals to over 100,000 people in 2008.)
• $100 million for emergency food and shelter programs. (Frontline food providers across our region rely on these funds to sustain their operations.)
• $100 million for formula grants to states for elderly nutrition services including Meals on Wheels.
• In short, the package includes these and other major investments that will assist families with lower incomes while stimulating the economy during this recession.

Your call can make a difference!

About The Food Bank

The Food Bank works behind the scenes of nearly every charitable organization that provides food to people in need in western Massachusetts. Our 400 member agency programs include meal sites, food pantries, homeless shelters, childcare centers, and elder programs, and more throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.  Each year, we distribute more than 7 million pounds of food (the equivalent of over 5 million meals) to these frontline food providers to help feed people in need. Food manufacturers, wholesalers, supermarkets, and restaurants donate much of this food. We also distribute federal USDA food commodities, food purchased through a state program, and fresh produce from our own community supported organic Food Bank Farm. The Food Bank is one of more than 200 certified food banks that are affiliated with Feeding America, a national network of food banks and food rescue programs.  www.foodbankwma.org

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc.
PO Box 160
Hatfield, Massachusetts 01038-0160
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc.
(413) 247-9738