Amo Meets with Boys & Girls Club, Milagros Project in Woonsocket to Highlight Need for Summer Meals Programs in Fight for Affordability
Woonsocket, RI – TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) met with kids and mentors at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island in Woonsocket to highlight the high cost of groceries and the importance of summer meals programs as part of his work fighting for an affordable America. He then met with representatives of the Milagros Project, which provides meals to food-insecure Rhode Islanders.
“The kids at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island need full bellies to fulfill their potential, but too many young Rhode Islanders are going hungry because of Trump’s cuts to SNAP and essential summer and school meal programs,” said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). “Visiting with the kids and mentors in Woonsocket today made clear what we’re fighting for: an affordable future for every Rhode Island family. I’ve stood up to Trump and Republicans’ cuts and anti-affordability agenda and will keep working to stop the chaos, end the cuts, and pass legislation that lowers costs.”
“Our kids deserve the same shot as every other Rhode Island child, but with rising costs many families are struggling,” said Erin Wood, Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island. “We appreciate Congressman Amo’s support and work in Congress to ensure our families have access to the programs that they need to thrive.”
“Food is foundational to health and wellbeing,” said Bonnie Piekarski of The Milagros Project. “We deeply appreciate Congressman Amo’s commitment to fighting food insecurity and his partnership in ensuring every Rhode Islander has enough to eat. At the Milagros Project, we work to provide immediate assistance to those who need it, but having an ally at the federal level means we are far more likely to build a future where everyone has enough to eat.”
Background
Low-income Rhode Islanders miss 42 million meals each year, and 1 in 3 Rhode Island households are considered food insecure. Trump and Republicans’ Big, Ugly Law was the largest cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the program’s history.
Congressman Amo has fought Trump’s cuts to food assistance at every turn.
Amo introduced the CARE for WIC During Shutdowns Act to prevent Republicans from stopping WIC payments to states during Republican shutdowns. He introduced an amendment to the Farm Bill to delay passing SNAP costs onto states until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies the changes wouldn’t impact food security. He is also a co-sponsor of the Universal School Meals Program, which would offer free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to keep every school child healthy and fed.
