The wonderful opportunity to give food to the hungry via the mailman has come and gone. (May 3 Guest Commentary, “Mailbox drive provides half of food banks’ annual supply.”) Hopefully this year’s drive was successful. But why is it that in the world’s richest country that there is so much hunger? And if hunger is “one of the most pressing issues facing our community,” what can be done about it? Support SNAP (food stamps) to start. Instead of cutting this program, expand it to make sure no one is hungry in America. Next, fix the underlying causes of hunger.
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene got a pilot program passed last year to get job training for people on food stamps. This program could be expanded. But over half of the people receiving food stamps are working. Time for a living wage for all workers. Congressman Rick Larsen has be working on raising the minimum wage as a start. Our job as voters is to make sure our elected representatives and leaders know that it is not OK to have 1 in 7 people hungry in Snohomish county. Write an email or make a call and ask them to end this 21st century tragedy.
Willie Dickerson
Snohomish
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