ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) – Each day, the farmers’ market at the Community Food Bank of South Arizona provides food for 62,800 meals. But the United States Congress to cut $40 billion from the food stamp program may change that.
Without help from the food stamp program, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food banks may be stretched to the limit. Hungry people will turn to food banks and food kitchens across America – where some of Mennonite Mission Network’s service program participants volunteer.
Each day, the Downtown Soup Kitchen in Anchorage, Alaska, serves at least 300 lunches. Marlene Allebach, a Service Adventure participant in Anchorage, spends her days making sandwiches and cutting up vegetables for the guests. To this food kitchen, the federal budget cuts could mean an influx of guests, which may make the already limited coffee, tea, and serving ware even scarcer.
At the farmers’ market, Anna Johnson, a Mennonite Voluntary Service participant, is thankful that individuals can use food stamps to purchase local produce. It encourages families to eat locally and healthier, Johnson said.
At food distribution organizations like the Community Action Coalition, in Madison, Wis., Brian O’Leary, an MVSer, picks up donations from Panera Bread, grocery stores, even the University of Wisconsin delis, to deliver to food banks and food kitchens.
The Community Action Coalition has already streamlined its operations, but in order to continue, some programs will need to be cut drastically. O’Leary is afraid that it will most affect their ability to provide fresh produce. “Providing a healthy, local option to everyone regardless of income is something that we pride ourselves in,” he said.
Although the cut will happen over 10 years, a $4 billion annual reduction worries Johnson. “I am not sure how some individuals and families are going to put food on the table without support from programs that assist the hungry,” she said. “Many of the people who these cuts will affect are members of the working poor, or are women with infants or children who are already struggling to make ends meet.”
The cut to the food stamp program is just one more thing that makes life harder. According to O’Leary, housing and medical insurance bills affect food availability as well. “All these issues are connected, and somebody who no longer has to worry about housing or paying all of their income to insurance, will inevitably have more money [for] food,” said O’Leary.
Together, Mennonite Mission Network service program participants suggested the following ways to help local food banks:
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Volunteer!
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Learn to grow food with others. Sharing knowledge about gardening is just as important as sharing food, said Johnson.
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Let state representatives know how you feel about the budget cut.
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Donate food or money.
“Most of our food at the soup kitchen is donated to us by local businesses, farmers and hunters,” said Allebach. “We are so blessed to have these donations! I think without these donations our fridges would be almost empty.”
“Whether it’s volunteering or donating money, food or products, anything that you can do would be amazing!” said Allebach.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
