One of the most important ways we as a nation support the food and nutrition needs of seniors, children, the disabled, low-wage and unemployed workers is through the Food Stamp and The Emergency Food Assistance Programs of the Farm Bill.

In our nation of plenty, the most recent Census Bureau/U.S. Department of Agriculture survey of Food Security in the United States shows that more than 35 million Americans live in households that face a constant struggle against hunger.

The original food stamp program started in 1939, but has undergone many changes since that time. The current Food stamp program was created by the Food Stamp Act of 1964, and its official purpose was to strengthen the agricultural economy and provide improved levels of nutrition among low-income households.  Today, the Food Stamp Program is the nation's most important food assistance program, especially for children. It provides more substantial nutrition assistance to low income children than all of the nation's child nutrition programs combined.

In September 2005 Food Stamp Program participation was nearly 27.6 million people, an increase of approximately 10.5 million people over the previous 5 years. The average monthly benefit is $92.60 per person. More than 80% of Food Stamp benefits go to families with children, allowing their parents to obtain food at grocery stores across the nation for meals at home.

The Food Stamp program is well managed, well targeted, and it has a low error rate.  More than 95 percent of food stamp benefits go to households with incomes below the poverty line, while many of the remaining beneficiaries are near-poor elderly or disabled persons.

Congress must renew the Farm Bill including the Food Stamp Program this year. During the reauthorization process it will be important to protect the basic structure of the program while increasing resources to expand enrollment to those who are eligible for Food Stamps, but don’t know where or how to sign up. 
 
The Emergency Food Assistance Program was first authorized to distribute surplus commodities as the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program in 1981. The 1988 Hunger Prevention Act required USDA to purchase additional commodities for low-income households and local emergency feeding organizations. Under the 1990 farm bill, the program was renamed The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

USDA buys the food, including processing and packaging, and ships it to the States. The amount received by each State depends on its low-income and unemployed population. State agencies work out details of administration and distribution. They select local organizations that either directly distribute to households or serve meals, or distribute to other local organizations that perform these functions.
 
In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, we saw how critical the Emergency Food Assistance programs were particularly in the earliest days of response.  The demand for emergency food assistance tripled according to America’s Second Harvest—a nation-wide food bank network.

The 2007 Farm Bill should include new investments in the Food Stamp and Nutrition Programs that make real progress in eradicating hunger and food insecurity in the U.S. Increased funding would pay dividends in good child development, child health, school achievement, a more productive work force, and greater economic security for America’s rural, urban and suburban families.

The Episcopal Church and Episcopal Parishes across the nation are doing our part to serve the least among us through soup kitchens and food pantries, after school programs, and feeding programs for those in need. For more information on some of these ministries visit the Jubilee Ministry web site.  The U.S. Government must do its part in the eradication of hunger in the United States.