May 16, 2008
Farm Bill Will Help Out Food Shelves
The Federal Farm Bill has passed both the U.S. House and Senate. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says there's no way the President can veto it.
Included in that legislation is billions of dollars going towards anti-hunger efforts.
Rob Meehan, with the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, says he's seen thousands of new faces in just the past couple months needing help.
"The amount of food that will be coming to the food shelf now that this new law has been passed is going to be incredible for us," Meehan said.
The Chittenden Food Shelf feeds more than 10,000 people every year. But lately the shelves have been looking bare.
"We've been having a really hard time filling the shelves and this will help us a lot," said Meehan.
Senator Patrick Leahy says this bill will help feed needy families across the Northeast.
The Farm Bill gives more than ten billion towards anti-hunger and nutrition programs. Still, the senator says the president is still threatening to veto the bill.
"Well let him veto it; we will override that veto. It is not economic, it is a moral issue," Leahy said.
Senator Leahy says no one in this country should ever go hungry.
"The wealthiest most powerful Nation on Earth can not justify it's morality as a Nation if it doesn't feed it's hungry people," said Senator Leahy.
The chittenden food shelf had a food drive just last weekend, collecting twenty thousand pounds of food. So that food, combined with the help from the Farm Bill is going to have a big impact on the Green Mountain State.
"We're going to be receiving more food, more emergency food, this is a really good thing for vermont," said Meehan.
Senator Leahy hopes this bill will help end hunger in Vermont.
To Donate to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf:
Call: (802) 658-7939
Stop by to Donate Monday thru Friday 9am-4pm
Food Shelf Address:
228 North Winooski Avenue
Burlington VT, 05401
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