As the director of North Valley Food Bank, I first want to say thank you to our community for coming together over the past few months to help one another and to support those who are struggling to keep food on the table during this unprecedented time.
Our staff and volunteers are putting in extraordinary efforts to respond to ever-changing circumstances while doing our best to keep everyone safe. The last few months have not been easy, to say the least. And unfortunately, we are not through this crisis. We have yet to see what the long-term economic impacts will be, or even what the public health crisis will look like in the weeks and months ahead.
Congress has taken many important steps to mitigate the impacts of job losses and increases in the need for food assistance, but one key policy continues to be left out: a temporary boost to SNAP. Please join us in urging Congress to strengthen SNAP in the next COVID-relief package by boosting benefits by 15 percent for the duration of the economic recovery.
SNAP is the single most effective way we can reduce hunger for our families, workers, seniors, and others who are struggling, while also stimulating local economies. Our communities are doing their part, but we need Congress to do more. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester, and Congressman Greg Gianforte, please support a boost to SNAP in the next COVID-relief bill.
Jessy Lee
Whitefish