Massachusetts anti-hunger advocate fasts to protest Trump food stamp cuts
WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Anti-hunger advocate Liz Wills-O'Gilvie, 63, said she has not eaten for 15 days in a bid to push Governor Maura Healey to raise funding for Massachusetts' shrinking food stamp program.
Liz Wills-O Gilvie, a 63-year-old anti-hunger advocate from Massachusetts, has gone 15 days without food to protest Governor Maura Healey's decision to cut funding for the state's food stamp program. The advocate, who serves on an anti-hunger task force appointed by Healey, is aiming to highlight the growing issue of food insecurity resulting from President Donald Trump's changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Since the program's changes in 2025, over 5.3 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits, according to USDA data. In Massachusetts, DTA enrollment has dropped by nearly 182,000 people, including 65,000 children. Wills-O Gilvie, who directs the Springfield Food Policy Council and the food justice organization Gardening the Community, says her fasting is in response to rising food insecurity and higher grocery costs.
She has spoken with Healey, who said she is working on the issue. DTA staff are overwhelmed, and people are losing benefits due to difficulty reaching caseworkers. Wills-O Gilvie, who suffers from lupus and hypoglycemia, has also met with state legislators in her home, as she now cannot drive. She intends to continue her fast indefinitely, stating she cannot let people down.
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