Dear Editor:
In the coming weeks, Congress is expected to reach an agreement on Fiscal Year 2006 funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and access to healthy food boxes is in jeopardy for almost 4,000 low-income Kentucky seniors and families.
The House and Senate have proposed providing level-funding of approximately $108 million for this critical program in FY 2006. This funding level, however, is insufficient and will reduce the program's caseloads by more than 22 percent in Kentucky and up to 120,000 people nationwide. Inadequate funding for CSFP will greatly impact the health of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens and will leave many more people - including mothers and children - searching for meals this year.
It is time for Congress to continue investing in the fight against hunger in our community by securing funding and sufficient resources for CSFP that maintains current caseloads and ensures our neighbors will not go to bed hungry this year.
