April 1 is Census Day! The Foodbank is committed to continuing services and delivering targeted support to the most vulnerable populations in cities and counties throughout Southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore. Help us do that by being counted! The census count means more than you may know. Here are a few examples of how the Census count is used:
1. Determine the number of representatives in Congress per state and community.
2. Draw party lines for voting.
3. Allocate resources to each state and city, such as money for transportation and infrastructure.
4. Determine how many schools and hospitals are needed.
5. Determine how much money is needed per state for federal safety net programs like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), school breakfast and lunch and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which many find themselves needing to utilize now.
6. Determine how much financial assistance is given to states, localities and every American in economically distressed times like these (like the $1,200 stimulus check).
The money doesn’t just “go away” for people not counted; it gets allocated to something else. Don’t wait until asked. Go online today to get counted in 2020!
