Stop The Cuts, Start Feeding Our Future -A letter to the House Budget Committee

Today, as SNAP budgets are cut and New Yorkers go hungry, I decided to share the letter I wrote to the House Budget Committee last spring. I hope this inspires others to take action and prevent families from going without access to food. See the

letter below.

Dear House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington,

Imagine sitting in class, trying to learn and engage while your stomach growls with hunger. This is the reality for 1 in 5 children in the United States.

Recently, the House Budget Committee proposed cuts to multiple federal Child Nutrition Programs and suspended funding for the Local Food for Schools Program, which helps schools buy fresh food from local farmers. You’ve likely heard how these cuts could harm the many children who depend on the programs. But this is more than a policy issue — access to nutritious food is a fundamental human right in our country. These programs don’t just feed kids — they support health, fuel education, and strengthen local economies.

Since sixth grade, I’ve been involved with Backpack Buddies, a student-led organization that provides weekly bags of food to 50 families in East Harlem living below the poverty line. We raise funds and pack the bags ourselves. It costs $1,000 to support each family per year, and we rely entirely on donations. 

LSA Family Health Service in East Harlem supports the families we serve through after-school programs and community care. As a volunteer, I help students with homework and lead activities while building connections and trust. Many face challenges, such as language barriers at home or limited resources, but they are bright, driven, and full of potential. They deserve the same opportunities as any child - including reliable access to food. Backpack Buddies doesn’t end food insecurity, but it offers stability and peace of mind, so kids can focus on learning and growing. No child should worry about where their next meal will come from. 

But as much as we try to help, programs like ours are merely a band-aid — necessary, yes, but temporary. The systemic drivers of food insecurity can’t be solved with weekly food bags alone. They require long-term investment and leadership at the federal level. Without that, these issues remain circular and generational.

Reducing access to healthy, affordable food will create the need for even more community support. The students we serve rely on free school breakfast and lunch daily. Our weekend food bags are meant to bridge the gap, but they can’t do it alone - families also depend on food pantries and other aid. Eliminating these programs could mean more kids eating processed, unhealthy food simply because it's affordable. Poor nutrition limits children’s growth, learning, and chance to reach their full potential. 

Recently, I taught a budgeting lesson to the LSA students. I posed a hypothetical situation: after covering essentials, what should they do with their leftover money? Without hesitation, they said, “Donate to charity. Give it to people in need.”

These kids are learning to budget wisely and give generously. I urge you to follow their example: continue investing in federal Child Nutrition Programs and supporting communities where it matters most — ensuring no child has to learn while hungry, and giving every young American the opportunity to thrive, achieve, and shape their own future.

Sincerely, 

Emma Kudelka