Roughly one in four kids in the face food insecurity and hunger in West Virginia each year, according to data from Feeding America.
By Nadia Ramlagan – Producer
Local West Virginia groups working to keep kids fed over the summer said the stakes are high for hungry families and the next Farm Bill must ensure greater access to nutritious meals.
The Farm Bill determines agriculture policy and funds major hunger relief programs like SNAP.
Artie Mullins, Feed and Read program project director for the Southern Appalachian Labor School, which primarily serves low-income kids in Fayette County, said proposed SNAP cuts or restrictions will further increase the burden on families. He noted the school’s summer lunch program – which also delivers daily meals to kids in low-income neighborhoods – has seen an uptick in demand.
“I have regulars who come every year and they come every day, and they’re looking forward for me to come, so I think a lot of the kids probably would not have lunch perhaps for that day,” Mullins observed.
Lawmakers already cut nearly $187 billion over a decade from the SNAP program through last year’s budget reconciliation law. The Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of next month. In the meantime, Congress continues to work on reauthorization.
Mullins pointed out the program works with the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, the West Virginia Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture but does not believe the organizations can replace the SNAP safety net. Mullins added this summer, staff and volunteers worked at capacity.
“Every day we serve around 40 to 50 meals in all four locations. We serve four locations, two in the mountainous area and two in the valley,” Mullins explained.
In West Virginia, one in six residents rely on SNAP benefits to help keep food on the table.
