Every day, Tammy reminds us why hunger relief advocacy matters.
When food insecurity hits, it doesn’t come with a warning. A lost job, a sudden illness, or a natural disaster can quickly push a family from stability into crisis.
We believe everyone deserves access to nutritious food. But providing that food takes more than just meals.
It takes advocacy.
Tammy, our Senior Manager of Government Relations & Programs, knows firsthand what’s at stake. “As someone with lived experience, I know that food insecurity can take an immense toll on a person’s physical and mental health,” she says.
This year, that need is even greater.
Recent federal budget cuts to food banks and nutrition programs like SNAP threaten to roll back progress. These programs are lifelines for millions of Americans.
Cuts like these mean more families in our community could be forced to choose between groceries and other essentials.
That’s why hunger relief advocacy matters.
“Our elected officials can’t be experts on everything,” Tammy explains. “They rely on organizations and individuals who’ve experienced hunger to inform policy making. Any opportunity we have to answer questions, share the stories of our neighbors, or discuss real-world implications of policy can give our elected officials a more solid foundation of knowledge on which to craft and amend policies.”
Tammy meets with officials across all 46 counties in our service area, the Tennessee General Assembly, and even on Capitol Hill. From disaster response to Farm Bill funding, her work helps ensure food insecurity stays on the agenda.
“Food insecurity can affect anyone,” she says. “Our goal is to have relationships in place to be there when we are needed.”
Advocacy is how we fight for tomorrow. It’s how we protect programs like SNAP and strengthen our community safety net. And it’s why hunger relief advocacy matters.
Now more than ever.