DEAR EDITOR:

I am a dietetic student attending Youngstown State University. I am a mom and former employee of St. Joseph Warren Hospital.

In the wake of COVID-19, many families are experiencing food insecurity for the first time, and I am deeply concerned by the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on communities of color.

According to estimates by Feeding America, in Ohio alone, up to 20 percent of the population face food insecurity. Federal nutrition programs, especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) continues to be an important first line of defense against food insecurity for millions of people and have become particularly critical during this period of acute need. Promising steps have been taken to increase benefit levels, but continued and increased investment in these programs is needed to help individuals experiencing food insecurity weather the crisis.

I encourage the Senate to strengthen and improve SNAP by further investing in our country’s most important food safety net program.

LAILA AL-EASA

Austintown