Advocate

Please take a moment of your time to email your state senator and request they increase FY 2013 MEFAP funding for food purchases to $15 million, as well as restore the DTA case worker fund (which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the Commonwealth) to$64.2 million, the amount proposed in the Governor’s budget. Anything less falls far too short of what is needed to ensure that eligible households receive vital SNAP

Want to know who your state senator is, and how to contact him/her? Click here.

Email the following message:

DearSenator (Last Name):

I urge you to increase funding for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) core food funding to $15 million.

I also urge you to increase the DTA case worker account to $64.2 million, the Governor’s proposed allocation. Anything less falls far too short of what is needed to ensure that eligible households receive vital SNAP benefits.  Neglected SNAP and cash assistance caseloads mean less Federal dollars coming into our Commonwealth.

One in nine residents of Massachusetts is food insecure, and, among children, that number is one in five. The additional funds requested through MEFAP will provide 3.9 million meals to those in need.

Working families who are struggling to make ends meet should not have to choose between paying their rent or mortgage, paying to heat their homes, paying their medical bills, or buying food. Children cannot do their best in school, and employees cannot do their best at work, without a stable and nutritious supply of food. Seniors cannot maintain their health without sufficient food. The homeless cannot reclaim their physical and financial well-being without sufficient food.

Hunger is a very real problem that affects every community in our Commonwealth. Please increase funding for MEFAP core food to $15 million and restore the DTA case worker fund to the Governor’s levels of $64.2 million.

Thank you for your support.

Better yet, consider calling or visiting your representative.  Find out how:

Advocacy matters! Together we can eliminate hunger in our communities. 

Did you know that each time a legislator hears from a constituent, they count it as representing much more than that one person’s opinion? The numbers below show just how much of a difference you can make by sending an email, writing a letter, or placing a call.

• 1 e-mail represents 100 people
• 1 letter represents 500 people
• 1 call represents 500 people
• 1 visit represents 1000 people

Check our State Policy Updates and Federal Policy Updates pages for information about current legislation related to The Food Bank’s work.

Watch our tutorial to find out how to make a call to your representative and have an impact on real food policy.

When to contact your representatives

Be vocal on current anti-hunger and pro-nutrition legislation!  When The Food Bank needs your support for particular legislation up for consideration, we offer an online letter writing tool to make it easy for you to contact your representatives.  Check this page and our policy updates pages often for updates.  You may also sign up for our Action Alert email list.

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How to find your state and federal representatives

You CAN make a difference by urging government officials to support the policies described above that will help reduce hunger and increase food security in our communities.

Visit congress.org to find out who are your federal, state, and local representatives.

For Massachusetts state officials, visit www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com. Call your legislators at the State House at 617-722-2000. 

Other online tools for finding your government representatives include:
Massachusetts State Legislature
On-line locator tool for U.S. Congress