On the same day the advocates sounded their warnings from Washington, D.C., and from the office at Utah Issues, others were working to educate the staff of Sens. Robert Bennett and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

The Crossroads Urban Center, Salt Lake Community Action Program and Utahns Against Hunger hosted the "Salt Lake County Hunger Tour," inviting the staff members to visit key areas, such as food pantries and the Rose Park WIC Clinic.

"I think they have a better understanding of the food safety net in this area," said Bill Tibbetts, chair of the center's anti-hunger action committee.

The tour stressed that use of the food stamp program — in danger of being drastically reduced — has seen its use increase by more than 50 percent in the last five years, reliance on the Women, Infants and Children program increase by 13 percent and the number of people patronizing food pantries increased by 31 percent in Salt Lake and Tooele counties the last two years.

"I don't think they realized the extent of hunger in Utah," Tibbetts said.

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