Tioga County Hunger Coalition members were recently joined by other community members to meet with Colleen Deacon, regional director from U.S. Senator Gillibrand’s office. Deacon agreed to travel down to this county to hear concerns about how regionalism in grant awards is affecting people in Tioga.
Some of the issues cited included the loss of a full time, county- based nutrition educator, the lack of transportation (now that we have lost our bus service through State Medicaid changes), the lack of affordable and habitable housing and hunger-related issues in Tioga County. One in five children is hungry at times in our county.
Concerns noted included the need for more summer food programs, for increased food eligibility at school breakfast and lunch, and for WIC and SNAP – which remains critical.
Deacon was a very good listener, concerned for this county, and promised to carry our needs back to Senator Gillibrand. The Senator is sponsoring a bill for increased summer lunch opportunities.
Special thanks to Sister Mary O’Brien, Tioga County Rural Ministry, who contacted the Senator’s office to get this ball rolling, to Catholic Charities for bringing some factual information to share and to Martha Sauerbrey, Tioga County Legislative chair and LeeAnn Tinney, Tioga County Economic Development for attending as well.
