By Carolyn VanderGiesen
Recently, I spent four days in Chicago attending the annual convention of the Community Action Partnership. It was very inspiring to hear all the success stories and listen to well-informed speakers!
Over the last 17 months, I have been a part of the local Community Action network, interacting with staff throughout New Mexico and appreciating the value and necessity of the anti-poverty programs. I have witnessed the impact of poverty on our citizens. Seeing how lives can be positively impacted with few resources is amazing.
That is why it is so disheartening to hear the recent news from Washington that the House has voted to cut $4 billion a year from SNAP (food stamps), a 5% reduction. If passed by the Senate, this will eliminate 3.8 million people from the program and seriously affect individuals who are already struggling. It will also impact our SafeLink program because many of our clients qualify for phones only because of their enrollment in SNAP.
This vote makes us more determined than ever to continue to serve the needy, as an agency as well as a state-wide community action partner, doing whatever we can to help our clients help themselves into more fulfilling and productive lives. Go team, go!