I’m writing in response to John-Daniel Wanvig’s guest voice article on April 5, entitled “An uncommon Christian view on food stamps.” I was pleased to read about Wanvig’s case for continued food stamp coverage and wholeheartedly agree with him. Many arguments against government assistance for needy families claim to come out of Christian values, but as Wanvig states, Jesus would not have supported doing so “at the expense of those in need.” There are a variety of instances in which individuals and families utilize food stamps — single parents, people with disabilities or long-term illnesses or unemployed households.
Personally, I can attest to the need for food stamps and similar government assistance. My mother, a single parent, worked several different minimum wage jobs before deciding to go back to college when I was in middle school. She was only able to attend classes part time in addition to her full time job, but with the added expense of tuition, our family needed food stamps. Government assistance allowed my family to get by until my mother’s hard work paid off with a degree in occupational therapy and a sustainable job.
Decreased access to food stamps can also have an effect on other areas of life. For example, women who have to choose between birth control and groceries don’t always choose birth control. Therefore, assistance with groceries can help to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. In addition, continuing government assistance programs like food stamps can provide needed support for women who may not otherwise choose parenting when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
Thank you, Wanvig, for speaking up in support of this valuable and worthy social program that does so much for women and families.
Sincerely,
Emily Rankin
Vice president of Vox: Voices for Planned
Parenthood