Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
The Revs. Shawn Berkebile and Matthew Best are already feeling the impact of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. People are walking into their churches crying, worried about how they will feed their families. They’re not the only pastors worried about their flocks these days. Most are. That’s because U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say they are cutting off federal funding assistance to feed poor families, effective Saturday. They say it’s because of the government shutdown, but President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) already had slashed millions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). More than 40 million Americans depend on SNAP, including elderly, infirm, and sick people, along with families and children. Many of them probably have no idea why the government has shut down. Nor do they care. They just don’t want to starve because of it. Republicans say they’re trying to rein in the national debt. Democrats don’t want to lose federal subsidies for health insurance. The result: come Nov. 1, no Pennsylvanian will receive SNAP benefits. The state doesn’t have the money to make up for the loss in federal funding. And many people, especially pastors, are panicking. Pastors Berkebile and Best say thousands of people in our region depend on SNAP to feed their families. In coming weeks, they will be turning to food pantries and churches for help. But their cupboards are running dry, too. These agencies are asking our community to help feed the hungry as politicians quarrel, play golf and build gilded ball rooms to host lavish banquets like Marie Antoinette. There are many churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, food banks and other charities gearing up for the worst. All of them rely on the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which needs donations now. And it’s hard to say how long the power holders in Washington are prepared to let people in our communities starve or go without healthcare. Pastors Berkebile and Best don’t care about politics. They care about feeding the bodies and souls of God’s people on earth. For those who call themselves Christians, they remind them of what Jesus said in Matthew 25: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” But truth is most of the world’s religions call for compassion and helping those in need. We join the good pastors in asking for people to do all they can to help houses of worship and charities manage the crisis that is now upon us. They ask for prayer but also for action. Those trying to help need donations and volunteers. But they also need advocates not afraid to speak out. Contact your legislators, congressmen, the governor and even the president. And tell them – nicely -- to soften their hearts and to sharpen their brains. We don’t need a balanced budget if it means families go without food and healthcare. Managing federal debt is far less painful than what sick children feel going to bed hungry. Remind our leaders what they should already know: people are suffering, and they have the power to stop it. Joyce M. Davis is PennLive’s Outreach & Opinion Editor. Follow her on Facebook, Bluesky @joycemdavis.bsky.social, and on Twitter @byjoycedavis.
