AMHERST – Fort River School sixth-graders who believe everyone should have access to food and housing and that more can be done to address income inequality said so to U.S. Rep. James McGovern.
Gaila Pakman Arrojo and Isabel Polak, both 12, spoke to McGovern during his visit to their classroom as part a civic literacy unit taught by Timothy Austin this month.
Isabel said raising the federal poverty line would ensure that more people could qualify for government help, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“We wanted to do it because we thought every citizen should live comfortably and not in poverty,” Isabel said.
She and Gaila made a poster stating “there is a massive amount of income inequality in the U.S.”
Gaila explained that in Massachusetts, qualification for many types of aid is based on the federal poverty line, including food and heating oil assistance, and health care programs. By increasing this line, she said, “more people can access support and opportunities that can help them make ends meet.”
McGovern told the students they should focus on extending SNAP, where people who still struggle to make ends meet are being removed once they are considered to be out of poverty, Isabel said.
Gaila said one surprising thing she learned from McGovern is that many individuals who are in homeless shelters have jobs, but don’t make enough income to support themselves.
As the spring semester came to an end, Isabel and Gaila said they expected to continue to pursue the topic of income inequality and solicit input from parents and others in the community.
“We’re thinking of making a survey to give to people in Amherst to see if programs can be improved,” Isabel said.
This survey, Gaila said, would ask questions such as whether residents are aware of SNAP and if they think town, state and federal governments are doing enough to support needy families.
McGovern said in a statement that he appreciates getting input from students about how to strengthen communities.
“These students at Fort River Elementary in Amherst are a shining example of what great schools and great teachers can help our kids accomplish,” McGovern said. “Tackling poverty and expanding opportunity for every family in Massachusetts is one of my top priorities.”
The meeting with McGovern, as well as state Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, Fort River Assistant Principal Diane Chamberlain and Amherst Select Board members Alisa Brewer and Andrew Steinberg, resulted from letters that students wrote to elected officials at all levels of government on issues ranging from homelessness, animal welfare, taking care of the American flag and renaming Amherst.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
