Letter to the editor: Leaders must address hunger

Last week, I graduated from Winchester Thurston School. Instead of walking across a stage in front of my school community, I watched my name flicker across a laptop screen from my kitchen. What I miss more than the ceremony itself are the goodbyes to my classmates and teachers that cannot fully achieve closure over Zoom.

It is easy to feel disappointed by the anticlimactic end to my senior year, but such feelings arise from an isolated mindset. I am able to find comfort remembering staying home for graduation protected countless others.

Covid-19 has forced all of us to make sacrifices, and, put into perspective, mine are minimal. With more than 30 million Americans unemployed, many must choose between rent and groceries. I am encouraged by local organizations taking action (“Fresh produce, milk planned for food box distribution in Harrison,” June 2, TribLIVE), but we need our government to help those experiencing hunger more.

I urge my members of Congress, Rep. Mike Doyle and Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, to quickly pass legislation that increases the maximum SNAP benefit by 15% until this economic crisis ends. If we act now, our compassion and our sacrifices for each other can be the true legacies of covid-19.

Bridget Hughes

Edgewood