Opinion OTHER VIEWS Taking A Stand Against Hunger E arlier this month, Yad Ezra board members and staff traveled to Washington, D.C., for the National Hunger Conference, sponsored this year by America's Second Harvest, an organization that distributes food and grocery products nationwide, works to increase public aware- ness and advocates for public policies that benefit America's hungry. Our journey began early at the airport. The juxtaposition of munching on my muffin while distributing the itinerary and related reading materials was not lost on me as I thought about the difficulty of conveying the needs of those who are "food insecure" to people like me who take the availability of food for granted. Upon arrival in Washington, we immediately went to the National Press Club, where U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Eric Bost, who has traveled to Israel and visited Yad Ezra in Berkley in the past year, re-awakened us to the plight of the 38 million Americans who suffer from "food insecurity!" Next came panel discussions on the Farm Bill for 2007. What, some of us wondered, does the Farm Bill have to do with feed- ing impoverished people and why is it such a core issue? And, why would a group of suburban Jewish adults opt to spend the day learning about this? The Farm Bill, as we learned, is about a lot more than farmers and farming. This bill enables interested stakeholders (farm- ers, industry representatives, conservationists and non-prof- 26 June 29 • 2006 its) to help Yad Ezra goes to Washington, D.C.: June Stillman of West Bloomfield, board member; Allan Sefton of Beverly Hills, executive board member; Lea design a bill Luger of West Bloomfield, development director; U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg; that includes program fund- Elaine Ryke of Rochester Hills, human services director; Lisa Kirsch Satawa of Bloomfield Hills, board member; Jeff Katz of Oak Park, board ing and legis- lative changes member; and Joel Jacob of West Bloomfield, advisory committee member. that impact the financial men who made time in their omy, regarding jobs, purchases, security/sta- hectic schedules to meet with etc." bility of vulnerable us, thanks to the efforts of West Our crash course on the Farm families, businesses, Bloomfield anti-hunger activist Bill included the opportunity to farmers, financial and philanthropist Joel Jacob. hear a keynote address by for- institutions, and state We met with Reps. Joe mer South Dakota Sen. George and local governments. Knollenberg, R-9th District; McGovern, now U.N. global As one panelist stated, "Just Mike Rogers, R-8th District; and as the agriculture industry helps ambassador on hunger, who, Sander Levin, D-12th District, to along with former Kansas Sen. feed people, the agriculture discuss how we at Yad Ezra are Bob Dole, has been instrumen- industry needs people to feed." committed to helping feed those tal in the fight against hunger. Panelists representing mem- in need and, at Sen. McGovern bers of the House and Senate, the same time, remarked that agriculture, industry, advo- we want our gov- the number of cacy groups and faith-based ernment to make deaths world- organizations spoke about the a commitment to wide due to contents of the Farm Bill, which protect the Food AIDS, tuber- includes "a strong nutrition title Stamp Program. culosis and that strengthens and enhances Food stamps malaria com- critical anti-hunger programs, are a major bined total less such as TEFAP (The Emergency lifeline to those Food Assistance Program), CSFP than the num- MMUN ITY CARE who are impov- ber of deaths (Community Supplemental erished; we must due to hunger. Food Program) and the Food do our part to On our Stamp Program to ensure that ensure they are available for second day, we met with Jean these initiatives reach as many Daniel from the USDA office and all who need them. As Imam low-income families, seniors Misbahudeen Rufai, one of the Ellen Vollinger and Ellen Teller and children as possible." faith-based panelists, said, "It's TEFAP provides quality, nutri- from FRAC (Food Research not a political issue; it's a human Action Center), who oversee tious food to hungry Americans issue!' 111 food stamps and public policy. and, at the same time, helps Armed with information, we strengthen the agricultural were now prepared to visit economy through the use of with three Michigan congress- surplus commodities. CSFP provides food for seniors, low- income pregnant and postpar- Yad Ezra, the Berkley-based kosher food pantry, urges you tum women and young children. to contact your U.S. legislators to urge their support of a Food stamps, the foundation for strong nutrition title in the 2007 Farm Bill that strength- hunger relief M the U.S., provide ens and enhances critical anti-hunger programs, includ- critical support to low-income ing the Emergency Food Assistance Program, Community families. Supplemental Food Program and Food Stamps. A lot of time, energy, talent Sen. Carl Levin, Levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm and effort is going into this bill Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Stabenow.senate.gov/email.htm to protect the status of the food Rep. Sander Levin, slevin®hr.house.gov stamp program, especially in Rep. Joe Knollenberg, rep.knollenberg@mail.house.gov light of a budget deficit. As Eric Rep. Mike Rogers, mike.rogers@mail.house.gov Bost said, "Every $5 in food stamps yields $9 for our econ- iNenline This Week dp Journey To Israel Jewish Renaissance Media Reporter Tovah Fruchtman, who is travel- ing with secular and Jewish journalists in Israel, takes us along with her through daily stories. Only at JNonline.us . Just click on the top story in the center column. Latest From Israel Want the most current news from Israel? Check our streaming news from ynetnews.com . Visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. JBlog In Perspectives, Jeff Klein of Waterford writes about life, love, friendship and relationships in a from-the- heart manner. Just visit JNonline.us and click on JBlog on the left. Summer Fun Planning a vacation? You'll want to check out our "Summer Fun" special section. It's chock full of trip ideas in and around Michigan. Visit JNonline.us and click on the Summer Fun button on the right." You Voted How closely do you follow events in Iraq? 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