The number of Philadelphians who are food insecure, that is, lack access to enough food for an active, healthy life, is unacceptably high. As noted in Greenworks: A Vision for a Sustainable Philadelphia, 21.7 percent of Philadelphians were food insecure in 2014. While this complex issue requires many different streams of action, every one of us has the power to fight hunger. On February 28th, the Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) hosted a Hunger Advocacy 101 training at the Philadelphia Horticultural Society to give individuals the tools they need to advocate for food security.
Kathy Fisher, Policy Director at the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and FPAC appointed member, and Emma Kornetsky, Government Relations Associate at Philabundance, explained how poverty and hunger do not necessarily go hand in hand.
“Nationally, 26% of food insecure households live above 185% of the poverty line.”
Even if a family doesn’t live below the federal poverty line, they may still struggle to find their next meal. Because the poverty rate is the same across the country, food insecurity will vary from state to state, due to higher costs of living. Food insecurity also leads to health issues such as diabetes and hypertension, contributing to a never-ending cycle of balancing food expenses and medical costs.
The best defense against hunger in the U.S. is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps”. SNAP meets individuals’ basic food and nutrition needs, encourages self-sufficiency, and is crucial for Philadelphia.
“In 2016, SNAP helped lift 340,000 Pennsylvanians out of poverty.”
However, SNAP is facing potential threats. Through budget cuts, eligibility work requirements, Block Grants (federal grants that are state allocated), and tax changes, the benefits our residents see from SNAP are at risk.
Philabundance and the Hunger Coalition recommend a few actions to protect our most vulnerable communities.
- Sign onto the Hunger Coalition’s SNAP Defense letter
- Send a SNAP/Nutrition defense message to Senators Toomey, Casey, and your Representative
- Sign up for the Philabundance e-newsletter and Coalition Against Hunger e-alerts
- Organize a meeting, write a letter, or make a phone call to your elected official
- Engage the people you serve in the issues
- Prepare to mobilize when there are threats
Let us know how you are fighting hunger in Philadelphia! To stay informed, follow FPAC by signing up for their newsletter, following on Facebook or Twitter, or attending a general meeting.