Letter From the Coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger Program

October 24, 2013 – from Ruth Farrell

Nearly every Sunday someone in my congregation asks for prayers for people they know who are unable to meet basic needs. Some are unemployed, some are working at minimum wage; somehave a health problem that creates an unmanageable debt, and many are children.

The Bible encourages societies to care for their orphans, widows and poor. Whether people or societies have little or a lot, it is clear that we as individuals and as a society are called to care for others less fortunate.

For me it was a real awakening when my daughter started working at a well-known store at the mall and we learned that her hours were never full-time; she was often “on call,” meaning they would let her know an hour before whether she should come in or not; she often was told she could leave early (not paid of course) because business was slow that day. We kept telling her she had rights and she kept telling us that this was normal. As we talked with others, we realized that indeed this is the norm. A huge number of retail and restaurant jobs are structured so that we have what is commonly called “the working poor”. Low-wage paying jobs in food service and temporary employment account for 43% of the post-recession job growth. For many of the “working poor,” their paychecks just can’t stretch enough to cover necessities like healthcare, school supplies and even groceries.

Fortunately, our society has provided a safety net through SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps) benefits. Today, children make up 49 percent of those who receive SNAP benefits. Our church puts faith into action through ensuring that the safety net is working and through providing complementary services that range from operating food banks to working in social services. We do this because we are called to love our neighbors and that means knowing who they are.

At a time when the income disparity between rich and poor is growing, Congress is deciding whether or not to cut this safety net. The Stated Clerk has written letters in accordance with our church policies, but this many not be enough. Can we stand by while children, working families and the elderly experience more hunger?

Our church leadership is inviting all Presbyterians and our friends to join them November 17-23, 2013 in participating in the SNAP/Food S tamp Challenge. The Challenge simply means choosing for one week to live on the average amount of food stamp support. In Kentucky, that means $31.50. How is this helpful? It is helpful to each of us to experience how much food this benefit actually buys. Our church will focus spiritually through providing daily devotions to use with each meal, learn more through educational resources like “A Place at the Table” (available on Netflix) and write or visit Congress to support them in creating a society that cares for the most vulnerable.

SNAP benefits are not meant to be a solution to poverty. They are meant to be a safety net. The SNAP Challenge is an invitation to pray, learn and act together as we become more aware of who is on SNAP and why. That awareness may lead us to solutions that address poverty.

One of the sad issues with our food system is that affordable food is often highly processed, not nutritious and leads to obesity, diabetes and other serious health issues. Check out the articles in this issue of the PHP Post that focus on positive actions we can take to make more nutritious food available to all.

We would love to live in a society in which our safety net exists but is not needed. How do we expect children to grow into adults who care about society if society doesn’t care to ensure that their basic needs are met? Help keep that safety net in place while we devote more energ y to lasting solutions.