Congressman James McGovern: Have hunger summit in Spfld

BOSTON (WWLP) - In 2008, Congressman James McGovern had the pleasure of announcing on behalf of the Obama campaign their goal to end childhood hunger by 2015. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen, he says, because there is no plan.

Joining the non-profit group Witness to Hunger at the Massachusetts State House, he proposed that Massachusetts become a leader in ending childhood hunger by putting a on a statewide hunger summit in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield.

The summit would be responsible for designing a roadmap with timetables and benchmarks to end hunger. Several young women shared their experiences with hunger, and how it not only brings community morale down, but costs the state in the form of lost productivity, education and health care.

“We need to make this a political priority, and in doing so we’re not only doing the morally right thing, we’re also going to save a lot of money because hunger costs an awful lot for this community and it doesn’t have to be,” said McGovern, a Worcester Democrat.

MsGovern hopes to rally support from Washington, private industry, non-profits and faith-based communities to better integrate programs that end hunger and help families become self-sufficient.

McGovern said avoiding further cuts to SNAP benefits is the key to that effort, and he hopes to gather nationwide attention to the issue by putting on a food and nutrition summit at the White House.