Please, give a few minutes of your time on Thursday to protect EFAP!

A message from Northwest Harvest:

This Thursday, November 20th, Washington State's Senators, both newly elected and returning members, will be in Olympia. This is a GREAT opportunity for us to tell them why they must protect and strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) in the 2015-2017 budget.

We realize that anti-hunger agencies are crazy busy right now with the holidays fast approaching-we really do. It may even be busier than usual with the temporary cuts to food stamps that has affected so many of your clients. But if you can take just a minute or two on Thursday 11/20/2014, you really could make a big difference for hungry families and for your own program.

• Think of a client story which illustrates the need for increasing support for state funding for food banks and protecting the food safety net programs in our state. Perhaps someone who is employed and still struggling to make ends meet, or a senior who is going without enough nutritious food in order to have enough money left to pay for their prescriptions or medical care.

• Take a few minutes to call the State Legislative Hotline THIS THURSDAY 11/20/2014 (1-800-562-6000) Tell the operator you would like to leave a message for your State Senator. Tell them: your name and the program you represent, and say, "It is important to _________(first name of client) that you protect and strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program during the legislative session." Tell them your client's story in a sentence or two that explains who your client is and how the food bank is making a difference in his or her life. It's important to put a human face on the issue.

• Please, if you are able to make this crucial call, take a quick moment to email one of us and let us know that you've done so. This would help us in our continued effort to follow up with not only your legislators, but with those of you who are engaged in advocacy efforts. We'd also like to hear your client stories, either via email or phone. Contact Christina Wong at christinaw@northwestharvest.org or Paige Collins paigec@northwestharvest.org. 

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to let our State Senators know that we need their help in the fight against hunger!