Letter to the editor: Government must help keep families fed

I fondly remember Shop ’n Save employees giving me free balloons and lollipops as a kid. I lit up with gratitude and pride when I saw their $10,000 donation to food banks (“Shop ’n Save donates $10,000 to Western Pa. food banks.” ) The donation is needed, as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is experiencing demand higher than ever before.

I learned through Girl Scout volunteering that nearly 90 men who reside at the Allegheny YMCA can no longer afford meals because of covid-19 economic fallout. Millions of people across the country are in the same dangerous predicament, suddenly unable to put food on the table.

Our government must take action. I call on Rep. Mike Doyle and Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey to use the next federal relief package to strengthen SNAP by increasing the maximum benefit by 15% and the minimum benefit from $16 to $30 to help people keep their families fed during this economic crisis.

Bridget Hughes

Edgewood