AMHERST — As a legislator on Beacon Hill, state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, has promoted expansion of food programs for senior citizens, supported food pantries, and outlined ways to reduce stigma around getting food assistance, using her past experience as executive director of the Amherst Survival Center.
On Wednesday, Domb will be in Washington, D.C. to participate in the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the first time such a gathering has taken place since 1969. She will be among those discussing food insecurity, ending hunger and the role of nutrition in illness prevention.
“I am honored to be in attendance for this historic opportunity and appreciate that President Biden has prioritized this effort and these goals,” Domb said in a statement.
Joining her will be government, nonprofit and private sector leaders, hunger and nutrition advocates, farmers and individuals who have experienced hunger.
The goal set by the Biden administration is to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, thus reducing diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
Domb, whose 3rd Hampshire District encompasses Amherst, Pelham and half of Granby, said she hopes to learn from the knowledge and experiences in other states, with lessons that can be brought back to benefit people in Massachusetts.
“Hunger is a problem of political will, and it is very exciting to join this national conversation to demonstrate and manifest that will,” Domb said.
Developed out of the last White House Conference on Hunger were both the federal school lunch program and the Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, supplemental nutrition program.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, who has repeatedly made calls for such a national conference, will also be part of the discussions aimed at ending hunger and addressing food waste, improving nutrition and physical activity, and increasing access to healthy food.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
