One of the most pressing aspects of the current shutdown of the US federal government is its effect on SNAP and other hunger related programs. The interviews you're about to hear were recorded on Monday, October 27th, as advocates across the country expected SNAP funding to run out or be withheld starting November 1st.

Since this was recorded, SNAP benefits were not released on November 1st, and federal judges have issued court orders that the administration continue to fund SNAP through use of contingency funds.

Take action with our current action alert: 

42 Million Americans Face Hunger Crisis During Shutdown - Take Action Now

Learn more about the Alliance to End Hunger here.

Learn more about ELCA World Hunger here.

Learn more about Lutheran Disaster Response here.

Featured Guest: 

Karen Ehrens, US Policy Manager, Alliance to End Hunger

Special Guests: 

Susannah Cunningham, Senior Director, Building Resilient Communities

Andrew Fuller, Program Director for Economic Policy, Witness in Society, ELCA

Here I Pod is a production of ELCA Advocacy. Join the ELCA Advocacy network: elca.org/advocacy/signup

Host: Regina Q. Banks
Production: Blake Chastain, Karen Krueger
Intro/Outro Music: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" arranged in jazz-style, by Steven Seigart

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.