Weslaco, TX (KRGV) - Faith leaders in the Rio Grande Valley are urging voters to make hunger a priority this election year.

Organizers with the nonprofit Bread for the World and local clergy said some families have to choose between food and medicine, and hunger is hitting families hard.

“We have to start having more civil conversations that address what is most affecting people, which is why, from the perspective of the church, it's important that we participate in the political process and hold people accountable,” Catholic Diocese of Brownsville Bishop Daniel Flores said. “Even though you vote for somebody, whoever it is, you could also have every right to tell them the next day, and don't forget this is an important issue.”

Community members also wrote letters to their members of Congress urging them to take action on hunger. Organizers said they collected more than 100 letters and delivered them to Valley congressional offices.