Write an Advocacy Letter

Our elected officials need to hear from their constituents on issues that matter to us.

You may choose to use a form letter, which can be very useful when mobilizing many people and can make sharing your advocacy easier. Or you may choose to send a letter through the legislator’s contact page, which may be seen as more personal and carry greater weight with them.

To submit a letter through your legislator’s contact page

Follow the steps below to identify your representative, find their contact page easily, copy and customize our suggested language, and submit.

Step #1        Identify your representative.

If you already know, skip to Step #2.
Find your legislator here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Step #2        Copy the text below, then edit the letter once you have pasted it into the legislator’s contact form (Step #3) and before submitting it (Step #5). 

[To copy: Select the text below and click CNTL+C or Command + C]. Remember to replace the [bracketed] text with the correct information before clicking the submit button.

Dear [Decision Maker],

Our community is experiencing record high rates of food insecurity. One in 10 people in the Blue Ridge live with hunger. The demand continues to increase, even beyond levels that we saw at the height of the pandemic. I’m writing to urge you to double down on our nation’s commitment to end hunger by prioritizing the passage of a strong farm bill to help our communities access the food they need to thrive.

As an advocate for [THE BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK OR ORGANIZATION], I’m asking you to support critical federal programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help our neighbors facing hard times get the food they need to thrive.

Specifically, Congress should:

– Reauthorize and increase to $500 million per year mandatory funding for TEFAP food purchases, adjusted for inflation.

– Increase funding for TEFAP storage and distribution to $200 million per year. This will help food banks offset the cost of storing and transporting USDA foods.

– Ensure SNAP’s purchasing power remains strong so that benefits align with rising grocery prices and provide adequate support during tough economic times.

– Streamline SNAP eligibility and enrollment processes to improve access.

– Protect SNAP participants’ food options, honoring the unique dietary requirements–including cultural considerations and medical needs–of every family.

As grocery prices remain high, Congress must come together to support the more than 47 million people, including 1 in 5 children–who live with food insecurity in the U.S.

Sincerely,
[FOOD BANK / PANTRY LEADER or Community Member]
[POSITION OR TITLE IF APPLICABLE]
[ORGANIZATION NAME IF APPLICABLE]

Step #3        Select your legislator (click the button to visit their contact page):

U.S. House Members

U.S. Senate Members

Step #4        Paste your letter into the message box of the contact form.

(Here’s a proposed Subject Line: [Prioritize TEFAP and SNAP in the next farm bill!])

Step #5 Edit the letter. Replace the [bracketed] text with your information before clicking the submit button.

Step #6        Click the submit button on the form to send the letter to your representative.

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You can use Feeding America’s form letter by clicking the orange button below