SHARE YOUR VOICE: ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HUNGER
How You Can Help:
Distributing healthy food to guests and partner agencies is at the core of River Bend Food Bank’s mission, but ending hunger in Illinois and Iowa also means championing public policies which are in line with our vision. Donating your time and talent advocating on behalf of hungry people is a critical way you can help fight hunger.
Our advocacy efforts are driven by two key principles. First, we will always work on issues that are directly related to fighting hunger. Second, we are committed to making sure that our education and advocacy messages are non-partisan. This is not only a requirement for nonprofits, but our vision for a hunger-free Iowa and Illinois is too important to be perceived as partisan, either nationally or locally.
Two examples of recent advocacy efforts include:
- Urging partner agencies to submit comments to the USDA on their experiences with the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to determine if and how this COVID emergency response program should continue.
- Coordinating with Iowa Food Banks to pass a law to make food banks tax exempt.
- Add your voice to the fight against hunger in Illinois and Iowa, sign up for our new advocacy email list to keep updated on current issues.
- Share your story about how River Bend Food Bank or other partner agencies have helped you during a time of need.
- Educate yourself on what hunger looks like in Illinois and Iowa by following Feeding America‘s website and following River Bend Food Bank on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
- Share a post showing your support for anti-hunger public policy on your social media pages.
- Write a letter to the editor for the Quad-City Times, Dispatch/Argus, or Telegraph Herald on why it’s important for your local elected leaders to support policies that fight hunger.
- Read through our Anti-Hunger advocacy Guide for more ideas!
