Over 80 Texas Clergy of Diverse Faiths Call on State Legislature to Prioritize Ending Hunger

February 4, 2025

Last week, more than 80 clergy from across the state of Texas called upon Members of the state legislature to take action on behalf of those struggling with hunger. With nearly 17 percent of Texans struggling to put food on the table — the second-highest rate in the nation — the diverse group of faith leaders urged elected officials to prioritize policies such as the Summer EBT program and modernizing eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make meaningful progress towards ending hunger in the state.

Alongside leading anti-hunger organizations including MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Feeding Texas, and the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, the participating clergy reached out to members of the Texas legislature as “leaders who regularly witness the struggles of those within our communities facing hunger.” They wrote:

Ensuring that all Texans, regardless of their circumstances, can access essential resources with dignity is not only a reflection of our values but a fundamental responsibility we share in building a just and compassionate society. We are united in our belief that ensuring every person has access to the basic necessities of life, including food, is a moral imperative.”

The clergy specifically called on the legislature to invest in improving the efficiency of Texas’s nutrition safety net programs, including implementing the Summer EBT program to keep kids fed during the summer, investing in necessary upgrades to Texas’ SNAP eligibility system, and streamlining program eligibility.

“There are no demographic boundaries when it comes to hunger — this issue impacts people of all faiths and backgrounds, in both rural and urban settings, every school district, and every community,” stated Abby J. Leibman, President & CEO at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. “Our deep conviction that all people are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with basic dignity and respect stems from our faith, as with each one of the brave clergy who brought this message directly to their elected officials. We are proud to stand with them in working to end hunger for all Texans and all Americans.”

“Hunger is not only a physical condition; it is a moral crisis that demands our immediate attention,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “Texas food banks, alongside faith communities with their deep-rooted values of compassion and justice, understand the profound impact of hunger on the human spirit. It is imperative that Texas lawmakers heed this united call to action. In addressing hunger, we uphold the dignity of every individual and fulfill our collective responsibility to care for one another.” 

The full text of the letter and list of signers can be found below:

To the Honorable Members of the Texas Legislature:

We, the undersigned faith leaders and clergy from communities across Texas, write to you as members of diverse faith traditions that call for justice, dignity, and compassion for all. As leaders who regularly witness the struggles of those within our communities facing hunger, we are compelled to speak on their behalf. 

Ensuring that all Texans, regardless of their circumstances, can access essential resources with dignity is not only a reflection of our values but a fundamental responsibility we share in building a just and compassionate society. We are united in our belief that ensuring every person has access to the basic necessities of life, including food, is a moral imperative.

Food insecurity in Texas has reached a crisis point, with an alarming 16.9% of Texans struggling to put food on the table, the second-highest rate in the nation. This rate is more than 4.5% higher than the U.S. average and marks a 1.4% increase compared to last year. This trend demands urgent action.

Our current systems are leaving far too many individuals and families without the resources they need to thrive. Factors like job loss, rising living costs, or health crises — often beyond people’s control—can push even the most hardworking Texans into hunger. Protecting and strengthening programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the cornerstone of our nation’s nutrition safety net, is essential for both the dignity of struggling Texans and the prosperity of our communities.

When Texas invests in improving the efficiency of its safety net programs — such as implementing the Summer EBT program to keep kids fed during the summer, investing in necessary upgrades to Texas’ benefit system, and streamlining program eligibility — we can maximize the amount of federal dollars flowing into the state to support those in need. These funds not only help struggling Texans access the nutrition and financial security they need; they also serve as an economic boost for local businesses and communities. 

Our faith traditions teach us to feed the hungry, care for the vulnerable, and build systems of governance that reflect compassion and justice. We encourage you to administer these safety net programs in a way that reflects these values and eliminates unnecessary hardship for Texans already facing difficult circumstances. This legislative session, we ask you to prioritize policies — such as implementing the Summer EBT program and modernizing the SNAP eligibility system — that honor the inherent dignity of all Texans and make meaningful progress toward ending hunger in our state.

We stand ready to support efforts that prioritize the well-being of our neighbors and create a Texas where everyone can thrive. 

Sincerely,

Rev. Laurie Anderson, Dallas

Rev. Tim Anderson, Austin

Rev. Ruben Andrade, Waco

Rev. Dara Austin, Dallas

Rev. Holly Bandel, Sachse

Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Austin

Rev. Stacey Brown, Grand Prairie

Rev. Dr Douglas Brown, Fort Worth 

Rev. Marianne Brown-Trigg, Denton

Rabbi Amy Cohen, Austin 

Pastor Armel Crocker, Dallas

Rev. Debra Crumpton, Arlington 

Rev. Beth Dana, Dallas

Rev. Ashley Dellagiacoma, Houston

Rev. Monica E Diaz, Austin 

Rev. Barbara Dunlap, Fort Worth

Rev. Ralph Emerson, Fort Worth

Rev. Jason Evans, Melissa

Rabbi Alan Freedman, Austin 

Rev. Dr Ruben Garcia, Fort Worth 

Pastor Jack Gilmore, Paige

Cantor Abby Gostein, Austin

Rev. Jermaine Grandberry, Bedford

Rev. Jonathan Greer, Dallas

Rabbi Will Hall, Austin

Rev. Matthew Hall, Fort Worth 

Pastor Demarcus Hornsby, Fort Worth

Rabbi Daniel Horwitz, Houston

Rev. Terrence Howard, Fort Worth

Rev. Darrell Jefferson, Heartland

Rev. Charles Johnson, Fort Worth

Rev. Jenna Johnson, Wylie

Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Dallas

Rev. Kristin Klade, Fort Worth

Rabbi David Lyon, Houston

Rabbi Erin Mason, Bellaire

Rev. Dr. George Mason, Dallas

Rev. Dr. George Mason, Dallas

Rev. Annie McGregor Meek, Copeville

Rabbi Dr. Sabine Meyer, Waco

Rev. Dr. Robyn Michalove, Fort Worth 

Rev. Amy Moore, Dallas

Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes, Dallas

Rabbi Steven Morgen, Houston

Rev. Heather Mustain, Plano

Rev. Dana Norton, Mesquite

Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, Houston 

Rabbi Andrew Paley, Dallas

Rev. Jonathan Perry, Richardson

Rev. Tomeca Richardson, Fort Worth

Sister Patricia Ridgley, Dallas

Rabbi Debra Robbins, Dallas

Rev. Kantrice Robinson, Waco

Rabbi Adam Roffman, Dallas

Rabbi David Rosen, Houston

Rabbi Adrienne Scott, Houston

Rabbi Daniel Septimus, Austin

Rev. Ashley Anne Sipe, Lewisville

Rev. Barry Smith, Austin

Rev. Taylor Smith, The Colony

Rev. Kerry Smith, Dallas

Pastor Joseph Solomon, Copperas Cove

Rev. Brandie Spletzer, Arlington

Rev. Dr. Mary Spradlin, Fort Worth

Rabbi Dr. Eleanor Steinman, Austin

Rabbi Brian Strauss, Houston

Rev Beth Stuyck, Fort Worth

Rabbi Ari Sunshine, Dallas

Pastor Kentris Sweat, Nacogdoches

Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas, Dallas

Rev. Dr. Harold VanArsdale, Killeen

Rev. Kristen Von Gonten, Belton

Cantor Renee Waghalter, Missouri City

Rabbi Shira Wallach, Dallas

Rev. Laura Walters, Dallas

Rev. Kristin Warthen, Arlington

Rev. Ginger Watson, Fort Worth

Cantor Hallie Weiner, Richardson

Pastor Joseph Williams, Fort Worth

Rabbi David Young, Austin

Rabbi Ben Zeidman, El Paso

Rabbi Brian Zimmerman, Fort Worth