Tell your senators: Add food assistance benefits to the next coronavirus relief bill!

The Senate's new COVID-19 relief bill doesn't include a SINGLE cent for kids and families suddenly facing hunger – even while millions have lost their jobs, and schools and businesses have been shuttered for months. It's unconscionable.

Tell your senators: Kids and families struggling with hunger need help! Make sure everyone has enough to eat.

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URGENT: Increase SNAP benefits and extend P-EBT

Dear [Decision Maker],

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I am writing to urge you to increase food assistance for families suddenly facing hunger before you go on recess, specifically by increasing the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit by 15 percent. In addition, I ask you to extend Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for the duration of time that children are unable to go back to school full-time.

With 30 million people unemployed, the Feeding America network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal sites across the country are estimating an average 50 percent increase in demand for services.

We urge you to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for all recipients by increasing the thrifty food plan by at least 15 percent for as long as the economy is weak to help promote economic stimulus and push against the economic downturn. This will provide critical food resources for families and relieve some of the pressure on food banks.

It's also critical that a final stimulus relief package includes an extension of P-EBT through the summer and the next school year as needed. An extension will help to ensure this program option can continue to operate and feed children when schools are closed and school meals are disrupted.

Additionally, we ask that you:

- Increase the SNAP minimum benefit from $16 to $30 to help individuals impacted by COVID-19, particularly seniors, for the duration of the economic downturn,

- Increase funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to assist food banks with additional food and food storage and distribution costs, including those incurred when distributing USDA market support purchases and disaster household food distribution programs, and

- Delay the implementation of any pending SNAP rules that would limit program eligibility and benefits.

In this time of extreme need, I urge you to increase SNAP benefits, extend P-EBT, and strengthen TEFAP to feed the millions of children, seniors, and families struggling with hunger.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]