,
5 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
At Dewey Elementary, where most kids have military parents, the line forms early at the food pantry for free food staples like bread.
The vast majority aren’t homeless or even newly unemployed. They're the spouses of US military service members. nbcnews.to/2GaY03U (1/5)
The vast majority aren’t homeless or even newly unemployed. They're the spouses of US military service members. nbcnews.to/2GaY03U (1/5)
Thousands of military families across the US routinely rely on federal assistance to make ends meet.
While service members receive allowances for housing and food, the housing allowance is often enough to push a family out of eligibility for food assistance. (2/5)
While service members receive allowances for housing and food, the housing allowance is often enough to push a family out of eligibility for food assistance. (2/5)
A service member’s food allowance is supposed to increase yearly for inflation and changes in food costs, but for the 4th year in a row, it increased less than 1 percent. nbcnews.to/2GaY03U (3/5) 
Advocacy groups and legislators have introduced provisions to ease the burden of service members in lower enlisted ranks, as well as lift them out of poverty, but efforts are stalled in both the House and Senate. nbcnews.to/2GaY03U (4/5)
Crystal Ellison served 13 years in the Navy, relying on loans from in-laws to stay afloat. She said she wishes more Americans knew about food insecurity in the military.
"We're giving 100% to the country, and the country doesn't give it back,” she said. (5/5) #NBCNewsThreads
"We're giving 100% to the country, and the country doesn't give it back,” she said. (5/5) #NBCNewsThreads
