Action Alert from Children's Alliance

Dear Linda, 31,000 Washingtonians, including 12,500 kids, are facing a terrible reality; a loss of half their food assistance. A court decision yesterday removes the order that was protecting families from this cut. Yesterday's decision fails to protect Washington's children, but legislators can still take action to protect our state's hungry kids and families. Washington State stood up for equality by creating the State Food Assistance program. It extends Basic Food (food stamp) benefits to documented immigrants living in Washington State. Participants in State Food Assistance include survivors of domestic violence, people who have lived in the US less than five years, and people fleeing the toxic impacts of U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. For the past several years legislators have rejected proposals to eliminate the State Food Assistance program, but last year funding for State Food Assistance was cut by 50%. Yesterday's court decision means that now children and families will suffer the painful consequences of that cut. After losing half of State Food Assistance support families will have a food budget of $3 per person per day. That is a recipe for increased hunger. In these final days of the legislative session, legislators should stand strong for kids and maintain the State Food Assistance program as well as change state law to make 50% of benefits the baseline of assistance, not the limit. This change will allow benefits to be restored to families as funds are available. Urge your legislators to stand strong for kids and stand strong for the State Food Assistance Program. Thank you for speaking up for kids! Sincerely, Jon Jon Gould Deputy Director P.S. The budget is being negotiated right now. Time is critical. Please take action now, and then share this message with someone you know who is willing to speak up for kids.