‘Hail Mary’ Effort: Florida Faith Groups Take Action to Stop Federal Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
The Boca Raton Tribune
By Dini Heizer
This article originally appeared in The Boca Raton Tribune.
Members of The Channel UMC express the importance of resistance and love
Photo: Christine Allen Holden
Faith groups across Florida are calling on the state’s congressional delegation to reject proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The effort comes on the heels of a statewide “Faith in Food and Health” Week of Action.
During a virtual press conference held yesterday, faith leaders spoke about the devastating impact that cuts to health care and food assistance included in reconciliation legislation would have on Florida families.
The bill, which was passed by the Senate yesterday, will now return to the House for a vote.
Additionally, faith communities ended June with a faith week of action. Almost 200 people of faith joined kickoff webinars hosted by anti-hunger group Florida Impact and the nonpartisan Florida Policy Institute, during which speakers discussed the devastating impact that proposed cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other crucial programs would have on millions of Floridians, particularly children, seniors, people with disabilities, working families, and rural communities — groups that faith traditions are called to protect. People of faith took action following the webinars including:
- Praying over the bill as a community during a day of prayer or prayer vigil
- Collecting donations to support local food pantries
- Sharing their stories with lawmakers through personal letters and calls
- Spreading awareness through social media and community announcements
- Delivering letters and postcards from their congregations to Senators Moody and Scott
Kim Johnson, CEO, Florida Impact, and one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “Plain and simple — we cannot turn our backs on the hungry and the sick. The proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid are more than policy decisions — they are moral choices that threaten the lives and well-being of our most vulnerable neighbors. In Florida, these cuts would mean empty pantries for working families, missed meals for children, and heartbreaking decisions for seniors forced to choose between food and medicine. These cuts harm real people in every corner of our state. Our faith calls us to care for the least among us, to lift people up — not let them fall. Now is the time to act with compassion and conviction.”
Zelalem Adefris, CEO of Catalyst Miami, said: “Any cuts to the SNAP or Medicaid programs would have a devastating impact not just on our clients who rely on these programs for their very survival, but on public health, generally. Our community is already struggling due to a lack of affordable healthcare, housing, and food. The proposed cuts would exacerbate all of these issues.”
Rev. Dr. Sharon G. Austin, Director of Justice Ministries at the FL Conference of The United Methodist Church, and one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “Local churches and Annual Conferences collaborate on justice work with the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church (GBCS, UMC). An abridged version of The United Methodist Church’s new vision statement is, ‘… love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.’ The GBCS calls all United Methodists to ‘urge elected officials to prioritize grace over greed.’ Scripture, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (2020/2024), the current UMC Social Principles, and the current UMC Book of Resolutions serve as the foundations of our relationships with God and our neighbors. When we fail to live into Scripture and The UMC and GBCS statements taken together, we fail to stand in compassion and care with those who need us most. In the spirit of The Florida Annual Conference, may we all Awaken to Grace!”
Rabbi Jessica Jacobs, Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “For thousands of years, the Jewish community has upheld a sacred responsibility: to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. And this commitment is just as urgent now as it was in ancient times… Each and every one should be supplied with what they need. In our tradition, this is not a suggestion. It is a mitzvah. It is a moral obligation. The prophet Isaiah taught us that the Holy One desires us to share our bread with the hungry; to take the wretched poor into our home; when we see the naked, we are to clothe them; we are not to ignore our own kin. Programs like SNAP and Medicaid are modern expressions of this call for tzedakah -– not charity, but justice. They are part of the safety net that ensures that our communities are healthy and thriving. By cutting these programs, we are abandoning our kin. As faith leaders, we know what it means to take care of one another in community. There are already so many in need, and we are doing our best to help. But we can’t do it alone. We are also part of a larger community -– this state and our country, which have equal duty to care for the needy in our midst.”
Rev. Pam Dedea, United Methodist Temple in Lakeland, FL, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “My church’s ministries is focused on helping to relieve child hunger and we see firsthand how these cuts to these programs are going to affect children that we care about deeply, not to mention the ones that we don’t know. As I reflect on what these cuts will do to our community, I’m horrified that we would have legislatures who would think that this is okay. When we read Matthew 25, we know we need to care for those who are hungry, who need clothing, who need housing, and who are marginalized for numerous reasons… As one of the faith leaders in our community, we have held prayer vigils this past week, seeking our leaders to vote no against these cuts in hopes that we can truly be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to be loud voices of opposition to this bill.”
Pastor. Willie Lawrence, Greater Union Missionary Baptist Church in South Bay, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “We’re a rural community. We have one hospital that operates out here in this area to care for nearly 35,000 people out here in these three cities combined. We have [high] unemployment in this area… We are the winter vegetable capital here in Florida and we provide a lot of these vegetables and fruits that many of you eat every day and this is quite devastating if these cuts come about… I ask for compassion from our elected officials to think about what they’re doing to rural areas such as Belle Glade which will be hit very hard from the cuts coming from our programs.”
Rev. Catherine Montgomery, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and Outreach in Jacksonville, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “Our food insecure neighbors in the urban core of Jacksonville are already working so hard to piece together limited resources wherever they can: SNAP benefits, food pantries, providers of hot meals, school breakfast and lunch programs, take-home snacks and meals provided by other nonprofits, meals on wheels, you name it… The network of food pantries in our state is an important part of the safety net, but I can tell you that food pantries like ours are already operating over capacity with limited resources… If SNAP benefits are cut, there is no cushion in the system to make up the gap. More people, more children, more senior citizens, more disabled people, more veterans will go to bed hungry at night. More will end up homeless. People of all parties must reject cuts to SNAP benefits including shifting the cost to states knowing that they cannot afford to continue them at their current levels. A just, humane, and compassionate society will not consider cutting costs, especially for the benefit of the rich, on the backs of those who have the least.”
Faith leaders and partners who participated in the week of action, also shared their thoughts.
Bishop Tom Berlin, Resident Bishop, Florida Conference, The United Methodist Church, said: “Hundreds of thousands of mothers will not have sufficient food for their children if SNAP food benefits are removed with the passage of this bill. There are people with disabilities and families who will no longer have critical health benefits. Wealthy individuals, however, will enjoy significant tax reductions for years due to this bill, even as our national debt continues to grow out of control. It is critical to understand who wins and who loses in this moment and ask God what you want to say to your political leaders.”
Tim May, Senior Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, said: “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the brokenness of the world — to falsely believe that writing a letter, making a call, or donating a can of food won’t make a difference, But when the policies of the powerful harm the most vulnerable, silence and inaction are not options for those who follow Jesus — especially when this is a moment where our voices, hands, and feet can truly make a difference.”
Christine Allen Holden, Pastor, The Channel UMC in Ft. Myers, said: “The love of God compels us to advocate for those most vulnerable among us. Until all have what they need, none of us do. Until all experience liberation, none of us are free. The Channel UMC stands with and for our nation’s children, elderly, infirm, disabled, under-resourced and marginalized people. We take seriously our commitments to do no harm, and to resist evil and injustice — and in this harmful bill — evil and injustice are presenting themselves! We must act and act now, or not dare to claim the name of Christ!”
Joshua Christiansen, Pastor, Orlando Community Church, said: “When the federal government transfers responsibility for food to the states and cuts Medicaid benefits, this conflicts with the example Jesus set through his teachings and ministry. Scripture calls upon leaders of every nation to provide for ALL their citizens, distributing the resources and prosperity that God has given them. For the United States to receive continued divine favor, Americans must be willing to extend God’s blessings to those in need.”
Rev. Valerie Goddard, Chapel United Methodist, said: “The need is great. Families are experiencing the impact of rising food, gas, and housing costs. Now with students on summer break, food insecurity increases. Churches in partnership with community agencies and businesses can make a huge difference in the lives of families.”
Cynthia Metzger Phipps, communications director, Christ Church United Methodist, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, said: “Our church hosts a food pantry and shared meal program, and we see people daily who are hurting and have nowhere to turn. The number of people seeking our help for food is increasing. We are called by God to show compassion and mercy for our fellow humans, especially those who are suffering. Our society can and must do better. I urge our representatives to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves: children who need health care, seniors who struggle on fixed incomes, disabled people who have no way to provide for themselves. They are depending on us to be a community that cares in their time of need. I pray our leaders will find it within their hearts to move past the partisanship that is a hallmark of our times and to vote in a way that reflects God’s mercy and grace.”
Matthew Kern, Hospital chaplain and ordained UMC minister, Tuskawilla United Methodist Church in Casselberry, said: “As a citizen who serves in both the community worship setting and in the hospital setting, the dependence on such resources is evident to me daily in the majority of residents I encounter. Having served in the clinical setting with the elderly, adults, and children alike, in both affluent and rural settings, it is my concern and that of many others that proposed changes to these policies will all but ensure the degradation and even loss of life for citizens of this state.”
Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute, said: “Our representatives in Congress should be championing measures that invest in Florida families and communities — not supporting the massive cuts to health care and food assistance included in reconciliation legislation,” said Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute (FPI). “Millions of families in this state are already struggling to make ends meet. If these proposed federal cuts are enacted, it will cause long-lasting, widespread hardship for families in every corner of our state. Plus, if Florida is left footing the bill to make up for the loss in federal food-assistance funds under the bill’s proposed cost-shift to states, that puts the fate of our entire SNAP program in jeopardy.”
###
Florida Impact is dedicated to advancing health equity by ending hunger for all Floridians. We mobilize communities to maximize access to federal, state, and local food and nutrition programs with a focus on Florida’s most vulnerable populations.
Catalyst Miami is a nonprofit that works to build power with frontline communities throughout Miami-Dade County to collectively advance justice and achieve shared prosperity. This is how we move toward our ultimate vision of a just society where everyone can lead healthy, prosperous, self-determined lives.
By Dini Heizer
This article originally appeared in The Boca Raton Tribune.
Members of The Channel UMC express the importance of resistance and love
Photo: Christine Allen Holden
Faith groups across Florida are calling on the state’s congressional delegation to reject proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The effort comes on the heels of a statewide “Faith in Food and Health” Week of Action.
During a virtual press conference held yesterday, faith leaders spoke about the devastating impact that cuts to health care and food assistance included in reconciliation legislation would have on Florida families.
The bill, which was passed by the Senate yesterday, will now return to the House for a vote.
Additionally, faith communities ended June with a faith week of action. Almost 200 people of faith joined kickoff webinars hosted by anti-hunger group Florida Impact and the nonpartisan Florida Policy Institute, during which speakers discussed the devastating impact that proposed cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other crucial programs would have on millions of Floridians, particularly children, seniors, people with disabilities, working families, and rural communities — groups that faith traditions are called to protect. People of faith took action following the webinars including:
- Praying over the bill as a community during a day of prayer or prayer vigil
- Collecting donations to support local food pantries
- Sharing their stories with lawmakers through personal letters and calls
- Spreading awareness through social media and community announcements
- Delivering letters and postcards from their congregations to Senators Moody and Scott
Kim Johnson, CEO, Florida Impact, and one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “Plain and simple — we cannot turn our backs on the hungry and the sick. The proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid are more than policy decisions — they are moral choices that threaten the lives and well-being of our most vulnerable neighbors. In Florida, these cuts would mean empty pantries for working families, missed meals for children, and heartbreaking decisions for seniors forced to choose between food and medicine. These cuts harm real people in every corner of our state. Our faith calls us to care for the least among us, to lift people up — not let them fall. Now is the time to act with compassion and conviction.”
Zelalem Adefris, CEO of Catalyst Miami, said: “Any cuts to the SNAP or Medicaid programs would have a devastating impact not just on our clients who rely on these programs for their very survival, but on public health, generally. Our community is already struggling due to a lack of affordable healthcare, housing, and food. The proposed cuts would exacerbate all of these issues.”
Rev. Dr. Sharon G. Austin, Director of Justice Ministries at the FL Conference of The United Methodist Church, and one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “Local churches and Annual Conferences collaborate on justice work with the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church (GBCS, UMC). An abridged version of The United Methodist Church’s new vision statement is, ‘… love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.’ The GBCS calls all United Methodists to ‘urge elected officials to prioritize grace over greed.’ Scripture, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (2020/2024), the current UMC Social Principles, and the current UMC Book of Resolutions serve as the foundations of our relationships with God and our neighbors. When we fail to live into Scripture and The UMC and GBCS statements taken together, we fail to stand in compassion and care with those who need us most. In the spirit of The Florida Annual Conference, may we all Awaken to Grace!”
Rabbi Jessica Jacobs, Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “For thousands of years, the Jewish community has upheld a sacred responsibility: to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. And this commitment is just as urgent now as it was in ancient times… Each and every one should be supplied with what they need. In our tradition, this is not a suggestion. It is a mitzvah. It is a moral obligation. The prophet Isaiah taught us that the Holy One desires us to share our bread with the hungry; to take the wretched poor into our home; when we see the naked, we are to clothe them; we are not to ignore our own kin. Programs like SNAP and Medicaid are modern expressions of this call for tzedakah -– not charity, but justice. They are part of the safety net that ensures that our communities are healthy and thriving. By cutting these programs, we are abandoning our kin. As faith leaders, we know what it means to take care of one another in community. There are already so many in need, and we are doing our best to help. But we can’t do it alone. We are also part of a larger community -– this state and our country, which have equal duty to care for the needy in our midst.”
Rev. Pam Dedea, United Methodist Temple in Lakeland, FL, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “My church’s ministries is focused on helping to relieve child hunger and we see firsthand how these cuts to these programs are going to affect children that we care about deeply, not to mention the ones that we don’t know. As I reflect on what these cuts will do to our community, I’m horrified that we would have legislatures who would think that this is okay. When we read Matthew 25, we know we need to care for those who are hungry, who need clothing, who need housing, and who are marginalized for numerous reasons… As one of the faith leaders in our community, we have held prayer vigils this past week, seeking our leaders to vote no against these cuts in hopes that we can truly be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to be loud voices of opposition to this bill.”
Pastor. Willie Lawrence, Greater Union Missionary Baptist Church in South Bay, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “We’re a rural community. We have one hospital that operates out here in this area to care for nearly 35,000 people out here in these three cities combined. We have [high] unemployment in this area… We are the winter vegetable capital here in Florida and we provide a lot of these vegetables and fruits that many of you eat every day and this is quite devastating if these cuts come about… I ask for compassion from our elected officials to think about what they’re doing to rural areas such as Belle Glade which will be hit very hard from the cuts coming from our programs.”
Rev. Catherine Montgomery, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and Outreach in Jacksonville, one of yesterday morning’s speakers, said: “Our food insecure neighbors in the urban core of Jacksonville are already working so hard to piece together limited resources wherever they can: SNAP benefits, food pantries, providers of hot meals, school breakfast and lunch programs, take-home snacks and meals provided by other nonprofits, meals on wheels, you name it… The network of food pantries in our state is an important part of the safety net, but I can tell you that food pantries like ours are already operating over capacity with limited resources… If SNAP benefits are cut, there is no cushion in the system to make up the gap. More people, more children, more senior citizens, more disabled people, more veterans will go to bed hungry at night. More will end up homeless. People of all parties must reject cuts to SNAP benefits including shifting the cost to states knowing that they cannot afford to continue them at their current levels. A just, humane, and compassionate society will not consider cutting costs, especially for the benefit of the rich, on the backs of those who have the least.”
Faith leaders and partners who participated in the week of action, also shared their thoughts.
Bishop Tom Berlin, Resident Bishop, Florida Conference, The United Methodist Church, said: “Hundreds of thousands of mothers will not have sufficient food for their children if SNAP food benefits are removed with the passage of this bill. There are people with disabilities and families who will no longer have critical health benefits. Wealthy individuals, however, will enjoy significant tax reductions for years due to this bill, even as our national debt continues to grow out of control. It is critical to understand who wins and who loses in this moment and ask God what you want to say to your political leaders.”
Tim May, Senior Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, said: “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the brokenness of the world — to falsely believe that writing a letter, making a call, or donating a can of food won’t make a difference, But when the policies of the powerful harm the most vulnerable, silence and inaction are not options for those who follow Jesus — especially when this is a moment where our voices, hands, and feet can truly make a difference.”
Christine Allen Holden, Pastor, The Channel UMC in Ft. Myers, said: “The love of God compels us to advocate for those most vulnerable among us. Until all have what they need, none of us do. Until all experience liberation, none of us are free. The Channel UMC stands with and for our nation’s children, elderly, infirm, disabled, under-resourced and marginalized people. We take seriously our commitments to do no harm, and to resist evil and injustice — and in this harmful bill — evil and injustice are presenting themselves! We must act and act now, or not dare to claim the name of Christ!”
Joshua Christiansen, Pastor, Orlando Community Church, said: “When the federal government transfers responsibility for food to the states and cuts Medicaid benefits, this conflicts with the example Jesus set through his teachings and ministry. Scripture calls upon leaders of every nation to provide for ALL their citizens, distributing the resources and prosperity that God has given them. For the United States to receive continued divine favor, Americans must be willing to extend God’s blessings to those in need.”
Rev. Valerie Goddard, Chapel United Methodist, said: “The need is great. Families are experiencing the impact of rising food, gas, and housing costs. Now with students on summer break, food insecurity increases. Churches in partnership with community agencies and businesses can make a huge difference in the lives of families.”
Cynthia Metzger Phipps, communications director, Christ Church United Methodist, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, said: “Our church hosts a food pantry and shared meal program, and we see people daily who are hurting and have nowhere to turn. The number of people seeking our help for food is increasing. We are called by God to show compassion and mercy for our fellow humans, especially those who are suffering. Our society can and must do better. I urge our representatives to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves: children who need health care, seniors who struggle on fixed incomes, disabled people who have no way to provide for themselves. They are depending on us to be a community that cares in their time of need. I pray our leaders will find it within their hearts to move past the partisanship that is a hallmark of our times and to vote in a way that reflects God’s mercy and grace.”
Matthew Kern, Hospital chaplain and ordained UMC minister, Tuskawilla United Methodist Church in Casselberry, said: “As a citizen who serves in both the community worship setting and in the hospital setting, the dependence on such resources is evident to me daily in the majority of residents I encounter. Having served in the clinical setting with the elderly, adults, and children alike, in both affluent and rural settings, it is my concern and that of many others that proposed changes to these policies will all but ensure the degradation and even loss of life for citizens of this state.”
Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute, said: “Our representatives in Congress should be championing measures that invest in Florida families and communities — not supporting the massive cuts to health care and food assistance included in reconciliation legislation,” said Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute (FPI). “Millions of families in this state are already struggling to make ends meet. If these proposed federal cuts are enacted, it will cause long-lasting, widespread hardship for families in every corner of our state. Plus, if Florida is left footing the bill to make up for the loss in federal food-assistance funds under the bill’s proposed cost-shift to states, that puts the fate of our entire SNAP program in jeopardy.”
###
Florida Impact is dedicated to advancing health equity by ending hunger for all Floridians. We mobilize communities to maximize access to federal, state, and local food and nutrition programs with a focus on Florida’s most vulnerable populations.
Catalyst Miami is a nonprofit that works to build power with frontline communities throughout Miami-Dade County to collectively advance justice and achieve shared prosperity. This is how we move toward our ultimate vision of a just society where everyone can lead healthy, prosperous, self-determined lives.
