LETTER TO THE EDITOR

As Congress grapples with the challenge of jump-starting the economy, out-of-work families and seniors struggle to keep food on the table, and both The Inquirer and Gov. Rendell have launched high-profile food drives. Food donations do have an immediate impact, and the city's 500 community-based cupboards will welcome the help. But political and business leaders also should be pressing for a temporary increase in food-stamp benefits in the economic stimulus package.

No doubt, conservatives will argue that every public dollar must leverage a significant return. Food-stamp spending does just that. In his testimony before Congress, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, said his research showed that every $1 increase in benefits generated a $1.73 rise in the GDP.

Sydelle Zove

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger