Our Charry Weekend Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Steve Gutow of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) encouraged all of us to take the “Food Stamp Challenge” - to attempt to live for a week on the average food stamp benefit of $31.50 per adult. Going through this experience allows us to identify with the experience of those struggling with hunger. It also has the potential to strengthen our advocacy for these federal hunger programs that support 45.7 million Americans at the edges of poverty. This is particularly important for us in Philadelphia.
This coming week, I and my family are taking the “Food Stamp Challenge,” and I encourage all of us to consider doing so as well, either this coming week or in a future week. You can find more info and sign up by clicking here.
To paraphrase the words of the haggadah we read at Passover, may all who are hungry have the opportunity to come and eat, and may we be part of bringing food to those who lack it. (Posted Friday, December 02, 2011)