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Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Partner Advocacy Resources

The farm bill can strengthen almost every federal nutrition program that helps ease the strain and stress of hunger in communities across the country. Become an advocate.

Below, to assist with advocating for more resources through the farm bill, you will find:
– The roll of TEFAP plays in food banking through the farm bill
– Hunger Facts
– Social Media Copy
– TEFAP Fact Sheet
– Links to letters you and your stakeholders can use to write letters to lawmakers
– The Food Bank’s Policy Agenda
– A sign on letter

What is TEFAP | Feeding America

Hunger Facts:

• 100% of counties and congressional districts are home to people facing hunger.
• Hunger exists in every zip code in the U.S.
• Food insecurity among Black or Latino individuals is higher than white individuals in more than 9 out of every 10 counties.
• Child food insecurity rates are higher than 40% in some counties in the U.S.
• 1 in 3 people facing hunger are unlikely to qualify for SNAP
• People facing hunger report needing more than $20 more per week to meet their food needs
• 8 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are in the South
• 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural.

Social Media Copy: You can cut and paste this social media copy.

FARM BILL-

The #FarmBill governs many nutrition and agriculture programs that work in tandem with food banks like [@BRAFB or @ BlueRidgeAreaFoodBank] and support [@LoudounHunger] to assist our neighbors facing hunger. 

 Learn More: FeedingAmerica.org/FarmBill

📢 Federal programs like #TEFAP and #SNAP help families & individuals in every congressional district across the U.S. access the food they need. Congress can help ease the strain & stress of hunger by increasing #TEFAP funding and strengthening #SNAP in the #FarmBill.

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The 2023 #FarmBill is a chance to change the face of hunger in this country. Congress must: 

➡️Increase TEFAP funding 

➡️Support and strengthen SNAP 

 Learn more: FeedingAmerica.org/FarmBill

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TEFAP-

🚜 TEFAP helps move nutritious @USDA foods from farmers to food banks like [@BRAFB or @ BlueRidgeAreaFoodBank] to families facing hunger through @LoudounHunger. Congress must increase TEFAP funding in the #FarmBill! 

🚜 Through TEFAP, the @USDA purchases healthy foods from U.S. growers and producers. Food-distributing orgs like [@LoudounHunger] then partner with states to get that food to people facing hunger. Congress must increase TEFAP funding in the #FarmBill! 

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TEFAP FACT SHEET – https://feedingamericaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/Resource_TEFAP101_FAQ.pdf

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SAMPLE LETTER – You can ask your supporters, guests, and board members to write a letter and send it to their representative. Below is a sample letter. Cut and paste it, then make a few minor changes.  Or make it easy and submit through this form. https://act.feedingamerica.org/d-6SnXZjrkysSK5BP4Z41w2

Dear [Decision Maker],

You have an opportunity to help families and individuals thrive by strengthening The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provisions in the next farm bill. This includes:

– Doubling mandatory annual funding for TEFAP food purchases to help people facing hunger and support the U.S. economy.

– Increasing annual funding for TEFAP storage and distribution to $200 million to help food banks offset the rising costs of storing, transporting and distributing nutritious foods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

– Ensuring SNAP’s purchasing power aligns with grocery prices and provides adequate support during tough economic times.

– Improving SNAP access for older adults, college students, veterans, working families, residents and others who do not qualify for or are unable to participate in SNAP due to eligibility and enrollment barriers.

– Helping more military families access SNAP benefits by excluding the Basic Allowance for Housing from the gross income calculation for SNAP eligibility.

– Supporting SNAP choice and focusing on ensuring affordable access to nutritious foods.

– Adequately funding and improving state employment and training programs.

– Ensuring people receiving SNAP benefits can access training opportunities that align with best practices.

– Preventing the expansion of SNAP work requirements, to support participants as they find work.

Sincerely,

[FOOD BANK / PANTRY LEADER or Community Memeber]

[POSITION OR TITLE IF APPLICABLE]
[ORGANIZATION NAME IF APPLICABLE]

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Lift Up Stories from Neighbors – Neighbors facing hunger can speak directly to the impact food and nutrition programs have on communities. Invite people in your community to share their personal experiences and consider the following guidelines when collecting stories: 

• Demonstrate the many reasons people come to seek food assistance during hard times, such as job loss, reduced work hours, family or medical emergencies, or unexpected issues with housing or transportation. 
• Gather stories that highlight how hunger-relief programs support people in achieving their goals. 
• Show diversity among participants, including single- and two-parent households and multigenerational households; grandparents caring for grandchildren; parents attending college; small business owners who have recently fallen on hard times; students and military families.

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