Advocacy 101: Sample Letters
Contacting elected officials is the most effective way to use your voice and advocate for those who are hungry in your communities. You can call their office directly, send them…
Every five years, Congress passes a new Farm Bill, and 2023 is our year to influence this vital bill. The Farm Bill supports our nation’s farmers, promotes rural development, and protects critical nutrition programs. Almost three-quarters of the bill’s funding supports programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Browse these page sections to learn how you can be a vital partner in this effort.
Lend Your Voice!
Our anti-hunger partners around the country are advocating for a strong bipartisan bill that:
- Strengthens critical anti-hunger programs
- Increases funding for food purchases and storage and distribution for TEFAP. As inflation increases and donations to food banks decrease, this program is vital to feeding families facing hunger.
- Streamlines SNAP enrollment by improving and simplifying applications, making telephonic signatures a national option, and reducing the number of in-person visits required to authorize programs.
Quick ways to share your voice!
- Signup above for our advocacy newsletter to get the latest updates.
- Read More about the Farm Bill and anti-hunger programs.
- Share a Facebook post to tell your friends.
- Write a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper on why it’s important to pass bi-partisan anti-hunger legislation.
- Contact Congress and ask them to pass a strong 2023 Farm Bill to help people facing hunger. You can call, write, or send a text. If you are going to see your Congressperson at an event, download our Farm Bill fact sheet and give it to them.
BROWSE OUR ADVOCACY TOOLKIT AND WEBINARS TO LEARN MORE
Our advocacy toolkit covers four essential areas to empower advocates: foundational advocacy skills, storytelling across different social media channels, engaging elected officials, and leveraging narrative in social media. It equips individuals with practical strategies and resources to make a meaningful impact on hunger. Browse the topics below to learn about these methods!
WE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HUNGER
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 people experiencing hunger is a critical way you can help us build thriving communities.
Key Public Policy Issues
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. Issues we will always focus on include:
- Including healthy, fresh, locally sourced, and culturally appropriate options in food provided by USDA programs.
- Making anti-hunger programs (federal, state, and local) easier to access (e.g. removing the requirement for congregate feeding sites, using updated technology for signatures and approvals).
- Strengthening anti-hunger provisions in existing legislation including the Farm Bill, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill.
Two examples of our 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.
Educate Yourself
Here are some specific resources that provide up-to-date, accurate information on issues related to hunger and hunger relief efforts:
- The Feeding America site is a vital source of information. Its Hunger in America, Take Action, and Blog pages include specifics on general policy issues, actions to take, and stories to share about the fight against hunger in the US. Visit the Map the Meal Gap page to learn about food insecurity in your state and county. The sister site, Feeding America Action also contains valuable information on the issues, policies, and state-by-state resources.
- Feeding Illinois and the Iowa Food Bank Association provide contact information about the food banks in each state, as well state-specifics on the face of hunger.
- The Greater Chicago Food Depository employs a governance relations team that researches hunger issues at both the federal and local levels. Its advocacy page also features success stories, opportunities to get involved, and past webinars on different topics.
Recent News
Help us encourage bipartisan collaboration in supporting farmers and families. Explore the importance of a comprehensive farm bill that addresses food insecurity, promotes sustainable agriculture, and provides assistance to farmers, or unlock the power of advocacy by checking out our sample letters, empowering you to make a difference in hunger relief and food security.
