People you work with may suddenly lose some of their food benefits. On February 1, 2011, DSHS cuts will impact legal immigrants who receive food benefits but not TANF (cash). What can you do? Help people contact DSHS to ask that their case be reviewed to determine whether they are eligible for federal basic food. It's possible that their immigration status has changed or that they are now beyond the 5-year time limit and can receive Federal Basic Food, etc. Share the word that advocates are working with the legislature to save the program, but we do not know what will happen when the final budget is approved. Ask if people would be willing to share their stories to help us show legislators how this cut to food assistance impacts people in real life. (Contact Summer for more information.) Talk to immigrant organizations, food banks, churches and religious groups in your community NOW about how you can work together to make sure people impacted have food assistance. Call on your community to donate grocery store gift cards and set up a way to distribute these to people you work with who are impacted. This short PowerPoint has more on how advocates can help. Click here for a letter from the Children's Alliance. | 
