Let’s talk food security policies

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Local News

April 16, 2019 - 10:32 AM

It’s hard to change the world when you are hungry, Humanity House’s Tracy Keagle says.

That’s why she hopes people from all walks of life attend the Allen County Food Policy Forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Community Building, 505 N. Buckeye St. 

The event includes a discussion on the impact of food policy in Allen County. It will include a presentation over the SNAP policy at the federal and state levels, discuss ways to engage in the political process around issues of food security going forward, and hear from the participants about what they think the major issues in their community are, according to Caleb Smith with Kansas Appleseed

“We are hoping to provide an update to food related policy, give an opportunity for the community to discuss equity issues and possible solutions, and make a plan moving forward to work toward possible solutions as a community,” Smith said. 

A primary focus will be advocacy, Keagle said. 

“We want people to get involved in changing policies, to volunteer and write letters to the editor and talk to legislators and people in power,” she said.

“Poor people need to learn how to advocate for themselves, but whey are hungry they’re not really thinking, ‘I need to write a letter.’”

An analysis by the Pew Research Center of the 2014 midterm election shows that those who are less financially secure are less likely to vote or be politically engaged. For example, 94% of the most financially secure Americans said they were registered to vote, but only 54% of the least financially secure were registered. 

“If you’re in poverty, you feel like you don’t have a say,” Keagle said. 

Because it’s difficult to engage those who are poor, it’s up to others in the community to step up and help, Keagle said. She encourages city and county commissioners, local religious and business leaders and others to attend Thursday’s event. 

The forum includes a meal. It will be free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Kansas Appleseed, Allen County GROW Food and Farm Council, Humanity House and the League of Women Voters of Kansas.

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