Representatives from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where they met with Nevada leadership to advocate for the hungry here in the Silver State.
Jocelyn Lantrip, a spokeswoman for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, said they took the trip so they could give those who have the power a bigger picture of what it looks like here in Nevada.
She said she wanted to let them know any cuts to programs that fill the bellies of the hungry could be devastating. "We're seeing very long lines for people receiving emergency food services. There are people getting up at 6am for a distribution that starts at ten because they're so worried we will run out of food or there won't be enough."
Lantrip said the past three years, the amount of food the Food Bank needs to feed the hungry has doubled and many of those in need are children.
She said about 50% of Nevada children qualify for free or reduced school lunch.
Many of those children are fed through SNAP, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She said she told Senator Harry Reid they can't afford to have that program lose any funding.
Also, because of the sequestration cuts, Lantrip said 5,100 WIC cases could be dropped from the program.
"That's quite a few women with small children that may not have formula or adequate nutrition when they're pregnant. That affects the big hunger picture."
Lantrip said the lawmakers she spoke with were very responsive to her message.
However, it remains to be seen just how much the sequestration cuts will impact Nevada's hungry.
Written by Chris Ciarlo
