San Francisco Food Bank - Sample Letters

February 2009

Dear [Insert Name]:

I am deeply concerned by several of the 2008-09 mid-year budget cut proposals, which would hurt many vulnerable Californians and increase their risk of hunger.

I am opposed to all of the cuts to families and individuals enrolled in programs such as SSI and CalWORKS. Low-income Californians are still reeling from the previous rounds of budget cuts and if these cuts are approved, they will hurt the most vulnerable in our state, while weakening our economy and resulting in increased spending for emergency services.

Of particular concern to me is the proposed elimination of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Eliminating this program will mean that 23,000 individuals will lose their primary source of income for food. This program is a vital lifeline for legal immigrants who cannot access food aid through any other channels. Moreover, the benefits that families receive from CFAP and other food assistance programs are immediately spent in their communities, generating economic activity that will far outpace savings to the state’s general fund.

Despite these difficult budgetary times, there are solutions. For years, there have been proposals that would both remove barriers to Food Stamps for low-income families and bring valuable federal resources to the state. It is well documented that due to the multiplier effect, one dollar worth of Food Stamp benefits generates $1.84 in economic activity. Currently, the state is leaving over $2 billion in federal Food Stamp dollars on the table each month. Some fiscally solvent recommendations are to:

Eliminate finger imaging for Food Stamps so more people in need can receive benefits and stimulate local economies

Remove restrictions on people in recovery that bar them for life from receiving Food Stamps;

Reduce red tape by allowing Food Stamp families to report income changes semi-annually, rather than quarterly, as other states do.

Food banks across California have seen significant drops in food donations from the manufacturing industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while facing unprecedented demand for their services. Given the current situation, food banks should not be asked to make up the difference that will occur from these proposed cuts.

California’s budget crisis can not be solved by cuts alone, particularly cuts that fall on children, seniors, disabled people, and families who need help putting food on the table. I urge you to reject the harshest of these proposals and pursue a more balanced solution to our State’s fiscal needs so we can wisely invest in California’s future.

Sincerely,

[Insert Name]