Table Talk
May/June 2011
Table of Contents
NALC Food Drive
Downtown Conference
SNAP Cuts
Quick Links
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Make Your Voice Heard
The key to a well-functioning
democratic society is giving
voice to the people and the
people exercising that voice.
Click the links below to
contact your legislators to
let them know your stance on
food insecurity in Kalamazoo
County.
Contact your representative
Contact your senator
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Table Talk, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes' advocacy
e-newsletter that's published six times each year.
This e-newsletter will inform you on recent hunger news and
legislation, as well as provide you with ways to be an advocate
for hungry people in our community.
Annual Letter Carrier's Food Drive
Set your donations out, help feed a neighbor
Be an advocate on May 14 by sharing with our community. Let's
collect enough food to stock this community's pantries at
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes' 26 sites, The Salvation Army, and
Portage Community Center. The need is there, the food is there
- now we just need you.
Just leave your non-perishable food donations near your
mailbox on the morning of May 14. Questions? Email Phyllis
Hepp, organizational development director, at
phyllis@kzoolf.org.
2011 Michigan Downtown Conference
Leading the Way to Vibrant Communities
Kalamazoo has an historic and renowned downtown community,
 but it's not without its problems. We need to address the hunger
and poverty that are concentrated in our downtown area.

Attend the Michigan Downtown Conference on September 14-15

at the Radisson Plaza Hotel to learn and contribute reasonable
steps to revitalize our downtown.

Visit www.michigandowntownconference.org for details and stay

tuned to www.kzoolf.org for session updates.

Say NO to SNAP Cuts

GOP wants to convert SNAP into block grants

The House of Representatives is pushing to transform the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into a block
grant program - meaning less Michigan households would be
able to earn access to this necessary program.

A block grant system would set a fixed amount for SNAP

funding, not allowing the limit to fluctuate with the economy. That
means when many local households hit an economic bump
again, they might not be able to receive help through this
program.

Call your Members of Congress at 877-698-8228 to let them

know how you feel about our community's basic right to food
security and sign the Food Research and Action Center's
petition.

Want more information? Read this USDA report on how SNAP

benefits increased food security in 2009.

If you received this e-newsletter from a friend and would like to be added to the
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes' mailing list, click here.