A Note from Nicole

Dear friends,

Today (Thursday, July 3) as I sat in my office hearing the joyful noise of neighbors enjoying our free summer lunches, I saw the news alert about the passage of the budget reconciliation bill. I am heartbroken that our leaders chose to make the largest cut to SNAP in the program’s history. Tens of thousands of Iowans now risk losing access to nutritious food. The fight against hunger just became exponentially harder.

To all of you who spoke up, made phone calls, or shared stories of the potential impacts of this bill – thank you. We are so grateful for your efforts and your voice.

The contrast between the callous choices reflected in this legislation and the generosity of our local community is stark. When we decided last fall to make the leap from one day of summer lunches per week to five I was apprehensive. But donations poured in and our volunteer slots filled up immediately. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this true community effort.

Here at Southeast Linn Community Center we believe food is a human right. Through our food pantry, Meals on Wheels, and free summer lunches we will continue to work to end food insecurity in our community.

Historically, any cuts to SNAP have led to increased reliance on food pantries. Our food pantry and our peers across the state are already seeing record-high levels of need. As we brace for anticipated increases, we are determined to stay in this fight. SELCC has been feeding our neighbors for nearly 40 years and we will not be deterred by these challenges.

Thank you to every one of you for all that you do to support our neighbors. You give me hope on discouraging days like today. Together we will continue the fight!