In observance of National Food Bank Day, Michigan Families for Fair Care hosted a community food drive in response to Congress making significant cuts to nutrition assistance programs that millions of Michigan families depend on. The drive collected over 500 pounds of food which is expected to feed several Warren families.
Michigan's more than 2,800 hunger relief agencies are in crisis as federal funding freezes have forced many food pantries to adjust their distribution by giving low-income families more canned goods and less fresh food. The situation has become more dire as working families already struggle with rising costs for basic necessities.
"As someone who works directly with families in need of programs like SNAP, I see every day how a family of four needs to stretch every dollar.” said Stephanie Ruble, a Macomb County resident and Feeding America volunteer. “When SNAP benefits get cut, these families don't have backup plans – they're already choosing between medication and milk, between keeping the lights on and keeping food on the table. The ripple effect means more families turning to food banks that are already stretched thin, creating a crisis that hurts our entire Warren community. Our Congressman John James is out of touch with the reality his constituents are facing."
Recently, Congressman John James (MI-10) voted for the Republican Tax Law, which saw benefits for the ultra-wealthy increase exponentially, at the expense of low-income households. This has resulted in thousands of Michiganders, women, children, and the elderly included, now facing increased food insecurity.
"The recent cuts to SNAP benefits are devastating to working families across Michigan who are already struggling to put food on the table. The Republican Tax Law pays for tax breaks for the wealthy by cutting nutrition assistance for children and seniors. These aren't just numbers on a budget sheet - these are our neighbors, our coworkers, and our community members who depend on these programs to feed their families. We hope to continue to educate constituents in this district about the impacts of these cuts as Congress considers whether or not to reverse them," said Steve Lawson, Executive Director of Michigan Families for Fair Care.
