Our mission goes beyond distributing food to our neighbors.
In addition to meeting immediate food needs, we aim to develop long-term solutions to address food insecurity. We advocate for policies on the local, state, and federal levels to build healthier, more food secure, and more engaged communities. Charitable food donations alone can’t ensure that families get enough to eat, and government programs play an essential role in keeping our shelves full.
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Engaging our neighbors: Our advocacy efforts are neighbor-centric. We work together with our neighbors to elevate their lived experience and empower them to advocate in their community, in the Commonwealth, and across the nation. Feeding SWVA holds community listening sessions and also partners with our neighbors through the Community Solutions Center Council. When critical decisions arise, we work with our media partners to create awareness and motivate our communities to respond.
Engaging our policy makers: We engage bi-partisan policy makers on every level to encourage decisions that help our neighbors overcome developmental and economic barriers to create a better future. We frequently connect with elected officials regarding policies and laws that affect our neighbors, and we welcome them to be part of our mission through volunteering and community events like Elected Officials Day.
Our Advocacy Priorities:
- Strengthening the U.S. Farm Bill: The Farm Bill was first created during the 1930s and provides agriculture and nutrition policies that impact farmers and our neighbors who are food insecure. It’s the nation’s centerpiece federal legislation for food and farming. These programs provide millions of dollars in critical food and funding for our food bank and our neighbors.
- Farm Bill is up for re-authorization by Congress approximately every five years. In 2023, the Farm Bill will be considered for re-authorization by Congress. We’re linking arms with the Feeding America network to advocate for the Farm Bill to be strengthened and protected.
The following programs, all of which are included in the Farm Bill, are Feeding SWVA’s policy priorities:
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): TEFAP provides thousands of pounds in food that help sustain Feeding SWVA’s partners and programs. Last year, Feeding SWVA distributed 5.5 million pounds of TEFAP food. Through the program, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases healthy foods from U.S. farmers, growers, and producers. Feeding SWVA works with the state of Virginia to distribute this nourishing food to neighbors facing hunger. Feeding SWVA advocates for an increase in baseline TEFAP funding for food purchases.
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): More than 830,000 individuals in the state of Virginia participate in SNAP. SNAP is a federal nutrition program that helps neighbors buy the food they need for healthy lives. It’s the largest program addressing food insecurity in the nation. People participating in SNAP receive monthly benefits through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which they can use like debit cards to purchase groceries. Feeding SWVA advocates for strengthening SNAP and improving SNAP access. Our food bank also engages in SNAP outreach to promote awareness about SNAP and provide assistance with SNAP applications.
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CFSP): Feeding SWVA distributes approximately 1,700 CFSP food boxes to seniors who are low-income each month. CFSP provides nourishment to our neighbors who are 60 and older. Hunger negatively affects seniors’ health and nutrition and puts them at higher risk for health conditions. The food boxes that CFSP provides is important for thousands of our neighbors’ well-being. Feeding SWVA advocates for the re-authorization of CFSP and a more streamlined reporting process.
- Changing the Benefit Cliff: When our neighbors pursue gainful employment and take steps toward greater financial stability through career advancement, they often receive a significant and rapid loss of public assistance, such as SNAP. This creates more financial strain on neighbors trying to get back on their feet. Feeding SWVA advocates for programs that would remove time limits on benefits for neighbors seeking employment. Further, Feeding SWVA encourages programs that provide maintained or increased benefits as our neighbors pursue gainful employment, followed by a gradual, phased decline in benefits with a corresponding increase in income. This approach creates a period of continued assistance while neighbors build a better foundation.
Language and advocacy priorities are adapted from Feeding America. See Feeding America’s advocacy priorities.
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