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TEMPLATE EMAIL TO REP. CHUCK EDWARDS
Subject: Protect North Carolina’s budget and working families
Dear Representative Edwards,
MANNA FoodBank serves 16 counties in Western North Carolina. We are deeply concerned that the budget reconciliation package expected on the House floor May 22 would shift an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in SNAP costs to North Carolina while slashing benefits for military families, seniors, and children.
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1.47 million North Carolinians (fns.usda.gov)—roughly 1 in 7 residents (map.feedingamerica.org)—use SNAP to buy groceries.
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Under the bill’s state cost-share formula, North Carolina could be on the hook for $420 million in FY 2028 alone—equivalent to 200 million meals far beyond what MANNA and food pantries could replace.
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New work requirement red tape does not promote employment but will sever assistance from parents of seven-year-olds and adults up to age 64, while draining resources from our local economy where every SNAP dollar generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
The Economic Impact on North Carolina:
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North Carolina could pay $280-420 million annually for benefits currently covered 100% by federal funds
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$522.3 million in economic activity could be lost
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SNAP provides just $5.70 per person per day—cuts would make food even less affordable
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Rural grocery stores threatened—many WNC counties have only 1-2 SNAP retailers
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7,772 jobs at risk across grocery and supporting industries statewide.
Western North Carolina is still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene, with MANNA FoodBank and its food pantry partner network serving over 170,000 people a month on average – a dramatic increase since Helene. In the 16 counties MANNA serves, over 90,000 people are enrolled in SNAP in the 11th Congressional District alone. These federal cuts would force even more families to rely on food pantries that are already stretched beyond capacity.
Please vote NO on any budget reconciliation rule or final bill that cuts SNAP or Medicaid. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
PHONE SCRIPT
“Hello, my name is ___, I’m a constituent in ___ County and a supporter of MANNA FoodBank. Our community is still recovering from Hurricane Helene. I’m calling to ask Rep. Chuck Edwards to:
Oppose any federal budget bill that cuts SNAP or Medicaid.
These cuts would force North Carolina to pay hundreds of millions annually while stripping food assistance from families still rebuilding from the hurricane. Every SNAP dollar cut removes $1.50-$1.80 from our local economy when we can least afford it. Please pass my message to the legislator. Thank you!”
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