It is inspiring to read about the local food banks, community organizations, and ordinary
residents who have stepped up to provide food assistance during these stressful times.
As the economy lags and families struggle, lines all over the country are growing longer.
During the government shutdown, the Trump administration threatened to cut off federal
funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), even though it had
access to “rainy day” funds that could have kept nutrition assistance flowing. Instead, it
even appealed a federal judge’s order requiring it to pay SNAP benefits, effectively
using hungry families as pawns in a political fight over the shutdown.
As one local woman told The Daily Item, “I’m sick and tired of the president holding us
hostage and not feeding people.” It is morally wrong for the leader of our country to turn
food assistance into a political weapon.
With the shutdown now over, nutrition assistance has restarted in most states, including
Pennsylvania. But with prices rising and the economic outlook uncertain, many families
are still at risk of not having enough food on the table. As we approach the holiday
season, we must demand that politicians stop playing games with people’s lives.
Hunger is not a game.
Julianna Cooper, Lewisburg