WFC Report from National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

Washington Food Coalition’s Membership Director, Trish Twomey, attended the annual National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference hosted by FRAC and Feeding America in Washington D.C. this past week.

Anti hunger advocates from the Children’s Alliance, Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline and WA Appleseed were also in attendance representing Washington

State.  The conference ran three days, filled with workshops, trainings and dynamic national speakers covering topics from Social Media to reaching rural areas with SNAP outreach to the 50^th Anniversary of The War on Poverty.

Our last day at the conference was dedicated to visits on Capitol Hill starting with a breakfast in the Dirksen Senate Building hearing from elected officials on national hunger issues. This was followed by visits to Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell’s offices with Northwest Harvest staff, Claire Lane and Jenn Tennent along; with Linda Stone with the Children’s Alliance.  We also had the pleasure to meet in person with Congressmen Denny Heck, Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene and Derek Kilmer and had visits with staff members from Herrera-Buetler, McDermott and Reichart offices. 

Despite a huge snow storm with schools and government offices closed, the 870 attendees carried their message to end hunger now to our elected officials in Washington DC. 

A personal thank you to Claire and Linda for setting up the Congressional appointments and allowing me to tag along!