Food insecurity is a widespread problem in the United States, affecting 1 in 8 Americans, which is 38 million as of the year 2020. Being food insecure, lacking the financial resources to acquire food on a household level, is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases like HIV, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and chronic disease morbidity and death. 

Passaic County, New Jersey has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the state, with 6% of the county being food insecure, estimated to be 32,000 people (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden). Food insecurity also disproportionately affects households with children under 6 years of age, female-headed households, adults with disabilities, Black and Hispanic households, and low-income households.

 
The Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue, as increasingly individuals are becoming food insecure, and based on the example of the great recession, will continue to be food insecure following the lifting of pandemic restrictions and even upon the stabilization of the economy.  

For this reason, we call on individuals to sign this petition to urge legislators and government officials to pass policy to fund increases in SNAP benefits (food stamps), education programs about nutrition, funding for food pantries and community pantries, as well as spreading awareness about food insecurity to promote action from members of the community.  

This petition calls on Congressman Bill Pascrell, State Senator Nia H. Gill, State Senator Nellie Pou, State Senator Paul Sarlo, and other assemblypersons in Passaic County to make the necessary changes to lower the rates of food insecurity in Passaic County.