The Pennsylvania Council of Churches is urging you to impress upon our State Senators and State Representatives the importance of an important Pennsylvania anti-hunger program–the State Food Purchase Program.

The goal is the allocation of adequate resources to meet the needs of Pennsylvanians struggling with hunger and food insecurity—1.4 million at last count by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

You can play a key role in this effort by communicating your support for this program to your State Senator and your State Representative.

If you would like to help–here is what you can do:

• Copy and print the letter printed below (please feel free to personalize it). You can download a copy in Word by clicking here.
• Address one to your State Senator and one to your State Representative (find the names of your legislators at http://www.legis.state.pa.us).
• Type or Print your name and home address at the bottom of each letter.
• Sign the letters and mail them to your Representative and Senator, or you can send them via e-mail as well. If you send by e-mail, it is probably best to incorporate the letter into the body of the e-mail message.

Please consider being a part of this important effort.

You are also encouraged to share this message with others—make multiple copies of the letter to share with friends, family members, co-workers, volunteers, clients and others who might be willing to participate in this effort.

Thank you for your consideration and all you do help end hunger.

The Letter

The Honorable                                                                       

Harrisburg, PA

Dear                                                                :

As a person of faith and a constituent who recognizes how important the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) is in helping to meet the needs of the thousands of people in our community challenged by hunger, I ask that you join me in supporting an appropriation of $20 million for this vital program.

SFPP is our Commonwealth’s most important contribution to the effort to feed the children, seniors, and people with disabilities, the working poor and the increased number of unemployed Pennsylvanians who rely upon food banks, food pantries and other providers for essential nutritional assistance. The many churches, community organizations and other non-profit groups that distribute the foods made available through this program need a strong and adequately funded State Food Purchase Program to continue to provide this help and respond to the increased demand brought on by the recession. SFPP makes it possible for them to acquire and distribute millions of pounds of nutritious food for our neighbors in need. The number of people seeking such assistance continues to rise and a modest increase of $2 million over the current year’s appropriation will help to address the growing demand.

While I understand that this will be another difficult year for budget deliberations, your constituents struggling to feed themselves and their families face an even more onerous challenge. Please give this cost-effective program the priority that it deserves. An appropriation of $20 million for the State Food Purchase Program together with the efforts and energy of our private charitable food assistance network can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of our fellow Pennsylvanians. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Name:                                                                                                                        

Address:                                                                                                         

City:                                                                               Zip: