Additional speakers have been announced for the interfaith Vote to End Hunger Rally to be held Nov. 8 at Grand View University in Des Moines.
Rep. Mark Smith, (D-Marshalltown), Democratic leader in the Iowa House of Representatives, and Sen. Brad Zaun, (R-Urbandale), will make a few remarks.
The rally will also feature an Iowan who has lacked reliable access to a sufficient quantity of food. Jean Rolfe currently lives in Dubuque after moving from Wisconsin in 2008. She was married for 18 years before domestic violence ultimately ended her marriage. Her family ended up on food stamps not because she wanted to, but because she had to.
Kathie Obradovich, political columnist for the Des Moines Register, will serve as the emcee for the event. Cory Berkenes, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, will speak about what hunger looks like in Iowa. Jos Linn, Grassroots Manager, U.S. Poverty Campaigns, RESULTS, will lead an interactive session educating participants on how to make hunger a priority issue in our political campaign.
Please sign up for the free event at votetoendhungeriowa.eventbrite.com. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and end at 4 pending on the availability of presidential candidates, who are being invited to speak. Several videos of candidates explaining their plans to address hunger and poverty will be shown in the arena immediately before the start of the rally.
Several groups have announced their support for the rally, including Church World Service, the Northeastern and Southeastern Iowa Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, the Presbytery of Des Moines, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines. Plymouth UCC Peace Committee is also a supporter.
The Vote to End Hunger Rally is sponsored by Bread for the World and the Iowa Catholic Conference. Bread for the World President Rev. David Beckmann and Des Moines Bishop Richard Pates will speak at the event as well.
