Call for Applications: Communities Take Root orchard program

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.

FTPF and Dreyer's Fruit Bars are planting orchards across the country in a collaborative program called Communities Take Root (CTR). Through this exciting program, communities compete in a nation-wide vote to win a complete community orchard.  FTPF orchards are a wonderful way for communities to grow fresh fruit for the community, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen relationships, and build community food security—all through the simple act of planting fruit trees.

In 2011, twenty communities around the country won orchards for public parks, community gardens, food banks, homeless shelters, and community centers. To see information about this year’s winners, go to: www.communitiestakeroot.com.

We are now inviting applications for 2012. The first 100 qualified applicants will be in the running to win a free orchard, including orchard design, arborist expertise, and a fun community planting event. And, orchard recipients also receive a free community workshop on planting, pruning and caring for fruit trees.

Because your organization works on food issues, I thought I would ask if you would please help us spread the word by forwarding this email and attachment to food banks, community centers, homeless shelters, municipal governments, drop in centers—anyone who could benefit from a free orchard?

Thank you for your help in spreading the word about this exciting community enhancement program.

Robyn du Pré

Director of Outreach and Development

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

360-318-7639

www.ftpf.org

“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now.”

–Chinese proverb

Help us expand our groundbreaking programs! Consider making a tax-deductible donation today: http://ftpf.org/donation.htm.

You Are Invited! Online Training for Washington Connection Partnerships

You are invited to attend the following online training about Washington Connection Partnership:

        I.            How to Become a Partner (Understanding Partnership)

Thursday October 6, 2011 | 11am – 12pm

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at:https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/588324374

                Agenda

-          What Does it Mean to be Partner?

-          What are the Advantages?

-          Level 1 Host Organization

-          Level 2 Assisting Agency

-          What is the next step?

      II.            How to Set-Up and Use Your Partner Account (CBO Account)

Friday October 7, 2011 | 11am – 12pm

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at:https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/558218534

Agenda

-          Overview of Community Based Organization Account (CBO)

-          How to start an Application for a Client

-          Additional Supervisor Functionality

-          Report Summary Pages

The goal of Washington Connection is to link Washington State residents with vital services and benefits.  The partnership of community organizations is crucial in achieving this goal.  

Materials from the online training will be available on the Washington Connection website in mid October as two tutorials. For those who just need a refresher about the functionality and capabilities of the portal, please check out the current  Tutorial on the Washington Connection website.  

Please direct questions to:

Bill Callahan

Department of Social & Health Services

Community Services Division

Staff Development & Training Manager

Mon., Tues. & Fri. (509) 225-6189

Weds. & Thurs. (360) 725-4619

Gov. Gregoire calls November special session

Gov. Gregoire calls November special session

Asks Legislature to pass budget in special session, support jobs in regular session

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced that she will call legislators in for a special session, beginning Nov. 28, 2011. Her decision comes one week after Dr. Arun Raha, the state’s economist, lowered the state’s revenue forecast for the 2011–13 biennium by $1.4 billion.

“Congressional gridlock, the European debt crisis and high unemployment continue to take their toll on consumer confidence and our state’s economy,” Gregoire said. “Once again, we are facing a budget shortfall and once again I’m calling the Legislature back into special session to address the state’s budget. My only option is across-the-board cuts, and that option is unacceptable. Solving this budget crisis will require the Legislature to act.”

Raha is expecting another negative revenue forecast Nov. 17. Gregoire plans to tackle both negative revenue forecasts in one special session and hopes to finalize a budget with healthy reserves before Christmas. More than one month ago, Gregoire asked state agencies to detail how additional 5 to 10 percent cuts would affect their abilities to serve Washingtonians. She expects agencies to begin delivering those packages today.

If the Legislature approves a budget before the end of special session, Gregoire plans to spend the regular session focusing on policy bills to support job creation and economic growth.

“Let’s get this budget done right in one swoop well before Christmas and then turn our focus to supporting jobs and growing our economy,” Gregoire said.

Since the national recession began, the state has made nearly $10 billion in cuts. Gregoire has warned that additional reductions will continue to hurt public health, safety and education programs.

From Food Lifeline: All Eyes Are On Washington!

Senator Patty Murray's in the spotlight. Speak up now! Washington’s own US Senator Patty Murray was appointed to the new 12 person federal Joint Committee of congress members charged with creating a plan to reduce the federal deficit by approximately $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. Even prior to the committee’s work, more than 1 trillion dollars in 10 year cuts have already been approved. This drastic decision will lead to overwhelming impacts to necessary hunger-relief programs. We are lucky enough to have our state represented, so let’s make sure we let her know how important food programs are to us! Which programs are in jeopardy? With everything on the chopping block, programs like SNAP (food stamps), WIC, child nutrition programs, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), and other basic safety-net services will likely be up for cuts. These programs allow for the most fundamental needs of hungry families and individuals to be met by putting food on the shelves of struggling families, individuals, and the food banks and meal programs that serve them. Send a message! Ask Senator Murray to ensure that support programs for low income Americans, like SNAP and TEFAP, continue to accurately treat the need. The economic recession has caused more families to require food assistance. Now is not the time to cut back on funding and support! Ask her to work towards a balanced package that includes new revenues instead of just safety net cuts. Resolving the deficit should not mean devastating cuts to programs that keep families and individuals fed. Let’s tell Patty Murray know how we feel and strengthen the voices of those that feel the same! Food Lifeline’s Public Policy Manager will be visiting Senator Murray’s office in Washington, DC on September 12th to speak in support of hunger relief programs. Strengthen her voice by sending a message today! CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE!

LEARN MORE ABOUT FLL ADVOCACY! Advocacy Opportunities Join the advocacy Team!

NEW FROM FRAC: Breakfast for Health

NEW FROM FRAC: Breakfast for Health

In addition to fighting hunger, school breakfast is one of the most important contributors to a child’s health and well-being. Breakfast for Health (pdf), a new brief from FRAC, summarizes research on the strong links between school breakfast consumption and favorable dietary, health, and educational outcomes among children and adolescents. Research shows that:

• School breakfast participation improves children’s dietary intake.
• School breakfast decreases the risk of food insecurity.
  
• School breakfast may protect against childhood obesity.
  
• School breakfast participation protects against other negative health outcomes.
  
• School breakfast helps improve children’s academic performance, whereas skipping breakfast and experiencing hunger impair development and learning.
  
• Breakfast in the classroom programs and programs offering breakfast free to all children in the cafeteria yield other positive results for health and learning.
  

A companion piece to FRAC’s Breakfast for Learning (pdf), Breakfast for Health provides an easy-to-read summary of research for advocates to use in their breakfast expansion work.

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About Us: The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition. Visit our Web site (www.frac.org) to learn more. 

Advocacy Update: Census Bureau Releases New Poverty Data SNAP Lifting 3.9 Million People Above Poverty Line

Census Bureau Releases New Poverty Data
SNAP Lifting 3.9 Million People Above Poverty Line

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Contact: Jennifer Adach, 202.986.2200 x3018

Washington, D.C. – September 13, 2011 – The Census Bureau reported today that 46.2 million people (15.1 percent) were living in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009. This is the largest number of Americans living in poverty since the Census Bureau started publishing these estimates in 1959.

For struggling families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) is making a huge difference.  According to the Census Bureau, 3.9 million people – 1.7 million children – were lifted above the poverty line in 2010 under the alternative computation that counts SNAP benefits. In 2009, SNAP lifted 3.6 million people out of poverty.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual report on food insecurity showed levels of hunger and food insecurity for 2010 that were the same as 2009, although still about one-third higher than in 2007 before the recession wreaked havoc with America’s low-income and working families. The flat food insecurity rates are generally attributed to the growth in SNAP participation and the important boost in SNAP benefits that the President and Congress put in place beginning in 2009.

“SNAP lifted people out of poverty, and it helped keep hunger rates from rising. Both the poverty and hunger rates tell us that, while too many people continue to struggle, SNAP is a program that’s extremely important in helping people weather challenging times,” said FRAC President Jim Weill.

Other findings from the Census Bureau report include:

• Since 2007, the poverty rate has grown by 2.6 percentage points, from 12.5 percent in 2007 to 15.1 percent in 2010.
• Deep poverty (people living on incomes below 50 percent of the poverty line) grew from 6.3 percent (19 million people) in 2009 to 6.7 percent (20.5 million) in 2010.
  
• Even more telling is the increase in the number of families living below 125 percent of the poverty line, which means they are income-eligible for most federal nutrition programs. This number grew from 18.7 percent (56.8 million) in 2009 to 19.8 percent (60.4 million) in 2010.
  

The data further underscore the need for the President and Congress to pursue policies that spur job and economic growth and protect and improve safety net programs.

For further analysis, visit FRAC’s website.

SPD and Target's Emergency Kit Project for National Preparedness Month! Opportunity!

The eighth annual National Preparedness Month kicked off September 1^st.  This year’s slogan is: "A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare." The campaign’s goal is to move beyond education and encourage people to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

The Seattle Police Department’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is joining with Target to make that step easier for families in Seattle.  Target has generously donated $10,000 to help families build emergency kits.  Each participating family will receive a $100 gift card that they can use to build their own emergency kits.  Seattle Police Department will be on hand to help people identify basic items for an emergency kit, as well as help them customize their kit to meet their specific needs.  Participants must sign up for the event to be eligible. The event will be held at the West Seattle Target on September 29, 2011 at 9:00 AM.  They will be given a map of the store with locations where items for emergency kits can be found highlighted and the gift card to make their purchases. Families with children are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

The number of available kits is limited so if you are interested in participating in this one of a kind event please email the Seattle Office of Emergency Management at snap@seattle.gov or call us at 206-233-5076.

New Report: Household Food Security in the United States in 2010

Economic Research Report No. (ERR-125) 37 pp, September 2011

By Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Mark Nord, Margaret Andrews, and Steven Carlson


An estimated 85.5 percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2010, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (14.5 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the year, including 5.4 percent with very low food security—meaning that the food intake of one or more household members was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. The prevalence rate of very low food security declined from 5.7 percent in 2009, while the change in food insecurity overall (from 14.7 percent in 2009) was not statistically significant. The typical food-secure household spent 27 percent more on food than the typical food-insecure household of the same size and household composition. Fifty-nine percent of all food-insecure households participated in one or more of the three largest Federal food and nutrition assistance programs during the month prior to the 2010 survey.

• Report summary, 388 kb.

• Entire report, 893 kb. 

View Our Full Conference Guide Online!

Open publication - Free publishing - More coalition

Mayor's Day of Concern for the Hungry

A Seattle and King County Wide Food Drive VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Volunteer with friends and make a difference in your neighborhood

Contact us at (206) 329-0300 or info@emergencyfeeding.org Get a group together today! Emergency Feeding Program 7100 42nd Ave. S. Seattle, Washington 98118 info@emergencyfeeding.org (206) 329-0300

Saturday September 24 is Mayors' Day of Concern for the Hungry. Municipalities throughout King County back the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County's mission to help feed those in need. Ideals into action start with you. Volunteer teams between eight and sixteen people are needed to staff local grocery stores, working roughly two-hour shifts handing out flyers suggesting donations of specific "most-needed" foods. Shoppers purchase items, depositing them in barrels on their way out of the store. EFP provides the flyers, barrel delivery, donation pickup, and any support you need. But we need you in order to make this day a success. It's never too late to volunteer! Please call us as soon as possible to reserve a participating grocery store close to you. For more information contact us at (206) 329-0300 or info@emergencyfeeding.org, or click www.emergencyfeeding.org for more information on how your group can join this vital effort.

Marra Farm Outdoor Movie

WHEN:

Saturday, 9/10/11

6:30 - 9:30 pm

WHERE:

Marra Farm in South Park neighborhood

9026 4th Ave S

Seattle, WA 98108

WHAT:

Join Solid Ground's Lettuce Link / Marra Farm Giving Garden program for a farm tour followed by an outdoor screening and the Seattle premiere of The Greenhorns at Marra Farm in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. Marra Farm is a model urban community farm engaging people in sustainable agriculture and education while enhancing local food security.

About the movie: The Greenhorns documentary film, completed after almost three years in production, explores the lives of America's young farming community – its spirit, practices and needs. It is the filmmaker's hope that by broadcasting the stories and voices of these young farmers, we can build the case for those considering a career in agriculture – to embolden them, to entice them, and to recruit them into farming.

WHY:

All proceeds from the Movie Night will benefit Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link / Marra Farm Giving Garden program.

HOW:

Buy tickets now! Our $10 Ticket Price includes a tour of Marra Farm, appetizers (nonalcoholic beverages and food from Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop) and the movie.

Rain or shine! (We'll set up canopies in case of rain.)

Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs to sit on.

MOVIE NIGHT SCHEDULE:

6:30 pm: Arrive / mingle / refreshments

7:00 pm: Tour of Marra Farm

Dusk: Movie

CONTACT:

http://www.solid-ground.org/News/OutdoorMovie/Pages/default.aspx or

Megan Locatelli at meganl@solid-ground.org