Supporters Write Letters to Congress During Farm Bill House Party Week
17 May 2007
Scores turn out to ask their legislators to reform the Farm Bill.
Over food and drinks, and in homes, universities, and churches, an estimated 800 Oxfam supporters participated in Farm Bill House Parties last week, writing letters to Congress asking for reform.
There were about 55 house parties in cities as far flung as Los Gatos, California; Irving, Texas; Alachua, Florida; and Petersburg, Virginia. Supporters came together to learn more about the Farm Bill by reading Oxfam materials, doing Internet research, and watching films about the effects of US subsidies on the world market, and specifically, family farmers in West Africa.
House party hosts, many of them members of our new volunteer program the Oxfam Action Corps, led spirited discussions about the legislation that will govern our farm, food, and conservation policy for the next five years. Afterward, these hosts helped their guests write handwritten letters to Congress asking that subsidies be reduced and that the money be redirected to the programs that need it most – nutrition, conservation, rural development, and the research and development of renewable sources of energy.
Julianne Johnson, 26, and Heather DeLong, 29, both Oxfam Action Corps volunteers, co-hosted a 17-person house party in Denver, Colorado. With an impressive spread of wine, cheese, veggies and dip, Johnson said the event felt just like a typical social gathering – except, of course, when they got down to work writing letters.
Guests had different levels of understanding of the Farm Bill. Some knew a lot because they’re involved in farming. Others were hearing about the issues for the first time.
Through individual conversations, people became more comfortable with the concepts, Johnson said. And by the end of the night, everyone shared a common feeling of accomplishment. Having learned about a problem, they had responded.
“I think people were excited to leave having done something,” Johnson said.
