MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

Advocacy Tips

Find out about relevant legislative issues, updates and how you can get involved on our blog »

Contact Your Legislature

Write

An effective way to mobilize interested advocates is to set up a table in a public place (your synagogue would be a good example) encouraging people to take a few minutes to write their Congressmen. As urging people to advocate is often not enough to mobilize people into action, go one step further. Provide people with not only the information that they need to write a letter, but also with the supplies. A strategy that has been used successfully in the past has been setting up a sign that says “Take 5 for Children” (as in take 5 minutes for children) then gives people information about the relevant legislative issue, paper, pens, envelopes and encouragement. When people are presented with such an easy way to make a difference, their response will more often be positive. This is an innovative and effective way to mobilize people to advocate using only 5 minutes of their time.

If possible, do not follow a script. Although a sample letter for reference is a good idea, Congressmen take less notice of groups of letters containing a mass produced message. Encourage people to personalize their letters and, if possible, include a personal story, as Congressmen often use these stories to connect with their constituents and to argue specific points.

Tips for writing an effective letter to Congress

1. The purpose for your letter should be clearly stated in the first paragraph. Also, if you are commenting on or responding to a specific piece of legislation, identify the piece of legislation that you are addressing.
2. Be courteous and concise, if you disagree with the Congressman’s stance on a particular issue, tell them why without attacking them. Overly harsh verbiage does more harm than good.
3. Include information that is relevant to the issue at hand. Use examples where necessary. If you have an experience that directly relates to the issue, include it (Senators often look to constituent stories to connect themselves with the people that they represent).
4. Address only one issue per letter. If you wish to address more than one issue, write multiple letters. When possible, limit the letter to one page.

Sample Letter to Congress

Date

The Honorable [full name]
[Room #] [Name] Senate Office Building / House Office Building
United States Senate / United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator/Dear Representative:

I am writing to express my concern for the millions of Americans currently struggling with hunger and food insecurity. As I’m sure you know, this year Congress is expected to reauthorize the federal child nutrition programs. What you may not know is that the current reimbursement for a “free” lunch does not cover the cost of producing a school meal. The costs of food, transportation, labor, training, and equipment are rising quickly and without proper adjustment the existing provisions will not meet the increasing need. This reauthorization provides a unique opportunity to revise and improve existing programs.

While the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program are permanently authorized, other essential nutrition programs are set to expire at the end of September. These include the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), State Administrative Expenses (SAE) and the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

The School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program are effective (though underfunded), but for many children who receive these benefits breakfast and lunch at school are the only meals they eat during the day. While some children have the luxury of looking forward to summer vacation free from school, the children who depend on the National School Lunch Program must battle hunger for months at a time. In these trying times more and more working class families must struggle to feed themselves and their children with diminishing or disappearing paychecks, and it is ever more crucial that they receive the help that they so desperately seek.

From an economic standpoint, investing in the health and nutrition of our children is an investment in our future. Children who do not receive ample nutrition are less likely to pay attention in school and more likely to drop out. Students who drop out of school without completing their education have limited employment opportunities, meaning limited income, and are more likely to raise their children in food insecure households. We need a solution that increases the labor potential of the American working class, and I would like to see you vote for $20 billion over the next five years to support these vital programs.

Sincerely,

John Doe
1234 Columbia Ave.
Chicago, IL 60651

Call

There are two ways to get in touch with Senators and Representatives:

1. Call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Tell the operator who you wish to speak to (they can direct you to both the Senate and the House of Representatives) and they will transfer you to that person’s office line.
2. Call your Senator or Representative’s office line directly, numbers can be found in the following places:
   * Senate – www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
   * House of Respresentatives – clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.html

When you get connected to a Congressperson’s office line, you will most likely speak to a legislative assistant. Although occasionally you will be able to speak with the person directly, it is more likely that you will speak to a member of their staff who records how many people call and what their stances are on particular issues and provides a summary to the Congressperson.

It may feel as though your call doesn’t matter when you speak to a staff member, but rest assured that your input will reach the Congressperson, giving them perspective on the views of those that they represent.

Typically it is most effective to contact your own Senators and Representatives. However, there will be times when a particular member will sit on a relevant committee or be pivotal in passing critical legislation, in which case getting your voice heard is important whether or not they represent you specifically.

Sample Call to Congress

From switchboard:

YOU: Hello, I’d like to be connected to Senator/Representative ____________________’s office please.

OPERATOR: One moment please.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - -

OPERATOR: Hello this is Senator/Representative ___________________’s office how may I help you.

YOU: Hello, I’m calling to support increased investment in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. I think that now more than ever it is important to ensure that the children of this nation are provided with sufficient, nutritious food even if their families are unable to provide it. That is why I support increased funding for the Nutrition Programs that are detailed in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. I’d like to see $20 billion in the next 5 years go toward improving access, quality, and nutrition in breakfast, lunch, summer, afterschool and child and adult care food programs.

OPERATOR: Alright and what’s your zip code?

YOU: 43579

OPERATOR: Thank you for your call, I’ll pass your message on to the Senator/Representative.

On some occasions, you’ll be connected directly to the Senator or Representative and will have a chance to voice your concerns personally, but if not rest assured that the operator will pass on your message.

Contact your Local Paper

Tips for writing an effective letter to the Editor

When writing a letter to the editor, keep in mind that a published letter can be a great way to turn a Senator or Representative on to a particular issue. By showing that there is sufficient interest in the subject to be published, you can follow up such an article with a letter to your Congressman.

What’s more, if you are able to mobilize people in your community who are like minded and interested in activism, have them clip the article out of their paper and send it in as well along with a short letter (or simply a short comment) detailing their interest in the subject. This is a proven way to get a Congressman’s attention and a great way to communicate to them the interests of their constituents. Even if the person does not agree with you on a particular issue, it is important to let them know how the people who will be voting for or against them feel.

Find a relevant social issue, something that is important to you and (preferably) something that pertains to the issue of hunger in America.

Write a succinct, to the point letter (best if under 200 words) that people will not pass over when reading the newspaper. Keep in mind that readers often pass over the longer letters with the intention of saving them for later, but never return to them.

If you are responding to a particular argument, briefly summarize it in the introduction to your letter.

Stick to one subject per letter. If you want to write about more than one issue, write more than one letter.

Even if you feel strongly about a particular issue, avoid attacking individuals and using harsh language. Stick to the facts and you will be better understood.

Use clear evidence. If you have statistics to back up your case, state them and cite your source. If you have found a prominent figure who backs up your case, throw in a quote.

Proofread multiple times. If possible, give the letter to a friend and receive feedback to improve your argument.

Organize your letter in a logical way, introduce the argument, state your position, present your evidence, close.

When you are finished, take a step back and try to see the letter from a reader’s perspective. Do you write in a way that will speak to the average person or does your argument come off as one-sided or incomplete?

Remember, you don’t have to send the letter out right away. Sleep on it, read it again in the morning, edit, then send.

Sample Letter to the Editor

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in regards to the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This legislation is set to expire in September of this year, and includes all of the Federal child nutrition programs. Increasing economic instability is forcing more and more parents to struggle to provide food for themselves and their children. As the Declaration of Independence states, humankind is entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” As such, I feel it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that all children are provided with proper nutrition, which will allow them to thrive and prosper in their respective school environments. Economically speaking, investing in our children’s health is one of the soundest moves to make, as children who are well fed will concentrate better, learn more, and have a better chance of graduating and continuing their education. This leads to an improved pool of job applicants, better workers, and a better economy. I would like to see improved access, quality and nutrition in breakfast, lunch, summer, afterschool and child and adult care food programs and am pushing for an investment of $20 billion over the next 5 years in order to achieve this goal.

Thank you,

John Everyman