Opinion
Hunger is not a crime. A person who is unemployed, down on his luck, homeless, elderly, disabled or ill, a child, or any circumstance whereby one needs a government subsidy to stave off hunger — that person is not a criminal.
Food should not be a reward or punishment in the wealthiest nation on earth.
Earlier this year the (supposed) richest man on earth gleefully cut our government’s food distribution to the poorest people on the planet through USAID. He wielded a bejeweled chain saw onstage to celebrate, ignoring that he had no mandate from the people or authorization from Congress to do that.
This week we’ve been treated to the spectacle of gilded gifts, including an ACTUAL GOLD CROWN being bestowed on our wannabee monarch who is on an Asian tour. This is the fourth week of a federal government shutdown which is hurting all Americans, but mostly government workers and agencies which rely on a functioning government, which has stopped functioning. On purpose.
Food subsidies (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP) get cut off tomorrow, Saturday, November 1. Food is now a weapon in the hands of the sociopaths atop our government.
Here is what we must do. Support our food banks. N.O.W. They are more reliant on donors than ever before. One food bank manager said she senses panic setting in, much like we experienced during COVID, but she calmly stated that we cannot panic. No, we cannot. We can take action instead.
Food banks cannot fully step into the breach of the impact of SNAP benefits being cut, but they can help — if we help them.
Mesquite to Moapa Democrats are collecting checks for the Virgin Valley Food Bank, Parade of Lights Corporation (Salvation Army in Mesquite) and the Cappalappa Family Resource Center in Moapa Valley.
If you prefer bringing food or personal items, they are requesting canned tuna, chicken, soups, Progresso soup, beans, fruit, pasta sauce, spaghetti, mac and cheese, Hamburger Helper, peanut butter, jam, cereal or toothpaste, soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, toilet paper, tissue, paper towels, diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene, disposable razors and hand sanitizers.
You can drop off to The Meeting Spot, 312 West Mesquite Boulevard, Suite 103 (next to the Virgin Valley Food Bank, facing 1st Street South) on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon during Democrats business hours. If you need a special drop off time, call or text 702-715-8403 and one of our volunteers will meet you there.
We can’t let them beat us at this cruel game. This is an emergency. We are asking you to help in whatever way you can to feed those who need us.
Thank you.
Legal Update – This afternoon a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to continue paying food stamps to the 42 million Americans who rely on them to purchase groceries. Another federal judge is weighing in on a different complaint on Monday. The courts may come through, there may be appeals which hold up distribution, the government may refuse to comply — we have an array of unknowns. For now, let’s take action steps and help our neighbors.