This week on Straight, No Chaser host Katy Keiffer takes on the crisis of hunger with guest Anthony Butler, Executive Director of St. John's Bread and Life. Learn about how the federal cuts of the Reagan years left many people in a state of food insecurity that still lingers today and how the current Farm Bill is working its way through the Senate and could leave millions of people hungry with looming cuts to the SNAP program. Tune in to find out how, despite these challenges, Anthony and St. John's Bread and Life are helping millions of hungry New Yorkers by integrating technology, such as their innovative digital food pantry, to streamline costs and get more people fed the right food. This program is sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

" What's happening right now to SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] is that the Senate is proposing over 10 years to cut over $4.5 billion dollars in SNAP money. 40% of those who are hungry will be affected by that, that's around 800,000 families who will lose $90 a month on groceries. The biggest people who will be hurt are people who are receiving other federal subsidies, so the biggest people who will be hurt are working families and seniors."

"Food stamps supports farmers-- that's the purpose of it! This money goes back into farms. Food stamps also dramatically support local economies. "

--Anthony Butler of St. John's Bread & Life on Straight, No Chaser

We spoke to Anthony Butler of St. John's Bread & Life, an emergency food provider in Bed-Stuy. They remained open on Monday and Tuesday, providing meals to about 600 people each day after Hurricane Sandy. The Mobile Soup Kitchen was dispatched in Brooklyn to provide food relief services to people, and they will continue providing emergency meals as long as the need remains.

"We have been in contact with the city to see if they could use our Mobile Soup Kitchen… we are available for any relief efforts that need to go out." --Anthony Butler, Executive Director of St. John's Bread & Life

This week on Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer is joined in the studio by Christy Robb, the Director of Food Services at St. John's Bread & Life in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Today, Katy and Christy are discussing disaster relief after Hurricane Sandy. Tune into this episode to hear how St. John's Bread & Life has been serving hot meals in affected areas such as Coney Island and The Rockaways since the storm hit the city. Hear about the differences in services provided by large organizations like the American Red Cross, and smaller community organizations like Occupy Sandy. Is New York City prepared for another major storm? Hear Katy and Christy weigh in on what measures need to be taken to prevent a crisis in the case of another disaster. Preparedness is key; tune into Straight, No Chaser and learn what you can do to help the victims of the storm, and how to be prepared for the next one! This episode has been brought to you by White Oak Pastures.

"Now is the time to figure out next time... we need lights, water, sanitation... How many port-a-potties are in New York? How hard would it be to put those out in areas that don't have flushing water?" [18:15]

-- Christy Robb on Straight, No Chaser