The U.S. Senate has taken steps to reopen the federal government after the longest shut down in history. The House has been called back into session after its longest absence from work in over a century. (The longest the House has been closed was 60 days between 1855-1856.) The federal government may or may not reopen this week or this month.
With the reopening will presumably come funding for SNAP, the program that provides food assistance for one in eight Americans. That same program is currently under federal appeal by the Trump administration.
States that have taken efforts to use their own funds to backfill the gap in federal SNAP funding face efforts by the administration to stop that work. Regardless of how this cruelty plays out at the national level, it is unlikely that any meaningful progress will be made getting aid to those who need it in time for Thanksgiving.
That’s where the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council comes in. This interdenominational organization spearheads local efforts to create Thanksgiving meals for families in need and has done so for over 20 years. These folks also manage our local food pantry.
Last year, organizers helped 111 families and over 515 adults and children with Thanksgiving meals. Throughout the year, the food pantry makes it possible for hundreds of local families to shop for what they need three days a week.
If you can, please help this year. Food donations can be dropped off at The Valley Reporter and the list of what is needed is in this week’s paper. Checks can be written to the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council and left at our office. We also have QR codes for Paypal and Venmo at our office for those can use those platforms.
What’s happening at a federal level, where those who need food help are being demonized and treated like political footballs in a cruel game is a disgrace. If we can send $40 billion to Argentina, we can absolutely make sure those who are food insecure get the help they need, even during government shutdowns.
Help if you can and thanks to those who have already donated.
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