Letter to the editor: Leaders must take action on feeding hungry

Food banks are facing a crisis. A majority of the more than 200 food banks in the Feeding America network report increased demand for food since June 2021. This food crisis looms at the confluence of decreasing donations and continued rising food prices that strain the Feeding America network’s ability to serve families across the U.S.

Additionally, the number of people facing food insecurity is growing. In 2022, more than 44 million people, including 13 million children, in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households — an increase of nearly 31% and 44%, respectively, from the previous year.

The Farm Bill is our country’s most meaningful food and agriculture bill that impacts nearly every federal nutrition program that helps ease the stress of hunger in communities. If lawmakers do not consider the Farm Bill soon, many federal programs are at risk, putting additional strain on farmers, food banks and our neighbors facing hunger.

Lawmakers must take action to ensure that the government is funded, and a bipartisan Farm Bill is considered — keeping federal nutrition programs strong during both deliberations. Our neighbors facing hunger, and food banks like the Westmoreland Food Bank who proudly serve them, are counting on lawmakers to act.

Jennifer Miller

Delmont

The writer is chief executive officer of the Westmoreland Food Bank.