DeLauro Welcomes Local Connecticut Group Campaigning to End Hunger

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Chairwoman of the FDA and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement today in support of the Masters Manna Food Pantry's "Empty Plates Empty Pockets Campaign To End Hunger."

The group, based in Wallingford, CT, visited Congresswoman DeLauro's office today and delivered 1,700 paper plates bearing messages from families who visit the food pantry. Each plate describes an individual's or family's story about why they need assistance and the importance of ending hunger in the United States. Congresswoman DeLauro will deliver the plates to the White House to bring the matter to President Obama's attention.

"I am pleased to welcome Master's Manna Food Pantry and their "Empty Plates Empty Pockets" Campaign to Washington, D.C. today, and I look forward to delivering their message to President Obama. In today's difficult economy, hunger is a problem that is affecting millions of Americans, including many who never dreamed they would have to depend on a food pantry to feed their families. These 1,700 paper plates contain the stories of struggling families from my district, but represent only a small portion of the estimated 17.4 million American families affected by hunger today.

"But we must do more to address this serious problem, and help to ensure that everyone can afford to put food on the table. These paper plates from Master's Manna serve as a stark illustration of the work Congress needs to do in passing a child nutrition bill that allows more eligible kids to access school meals. The Empty Plates Empty Pockets Campaign also provides a grim reminder that we must restore the SNAP offset in the bill and ensure that SNAP benefits are not used to fund other initiatives."