Give Thanks and Ensure All are Fed
Thanksgiving is going to look quite different this year. Many of us will gather virtually with family and friends or connect in new and socially distanced ways. This year has brought unimaginable challenges, and while we pause to give thanks; it is also a time to extend compassion to those whose lives have been most impacted by the pandemic. In this season we especially think of the growing number of people in our communities and around the globe who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
In the U.S., the number of people facing food insecurity has been compounded by COVID-19 and could rise in the coming months to more than 50 million, including 17 million children. Likewise, the number of people facing starvation globally could double by year’s end, reaching over 250 million, according to the UN World Food Programme. As 1 John 3:17 (NRSV) reminds us, “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” As a nation of plenty we can and must do more to ensure that all are provided basic nutrition and dignity.
Call on Congress today to pass a robust COVID-19 relief package that includes nutrition assistance for families struggling with hunger in the U.S. This means boosting the maximum SNAP benefit by 15%; and increasing the minimum SNAP benefit from $16 to $30 per month. Congress must also include $20 billion in foreign aid to address hunger and poverty around the world.
We are called to be people not just of words, but tangible actions. Take action today by letting Congress know you are watching, praying, and calling on them to pass COVID legislation that will alleviate hunger in the U.S. and around the globe.