Testimonials About State Nutrition & Children Programs

Volunteer Needs at Union Gospel Mission

The Mission needs your help in December - and beyond....

Christmas is coming! What better way to celebrate the love that was given to us by giving back!

 Here are some immediate needs to prayerfully consider:

Mission (general)

·         Holiday Thank You calls – Spread the Joy of Christmas by helping us thank those who serve alongside you. This may be done from home as your schedule allows. We will provide you with all information and support needed. You can do this with your warm slippers on!

·         Administrative and Reception help needed at our South Othello Campus

Seniors

·         Senior Ministries needs leaders and participants to bring fellowship groups into Residential facilities throughout Seattle. You will be given training and materials; the Love and Fellowship is all yours!

Men’s Shelter

·         Prepare and drop off Sandwiches (120) for Search and Rescue. This can be done from home in advance with your supplies (what a blessing!) or from our kitchen between 6:30 and 8:00pm on the night selected.

·         Morning Watch van ministry every weekday from 6 to 9am. Respond to requests from downtown businesses and concerned neighbors and assist in encouraging those sleeping out of doors to come in to the Mission.

Women and Children’s Shelter (Hope Place)
·         Hope Place Graduation 12/14. Childcare help needed from 5:45-8:30pm
·         Hope Place needs 120 Sack Lunches made and delivered at Noon on Saturday.
·         Groups needed for Hope Place Christmas Bring and Serve for 80 people on Christmas Day
·         Tutoring for children

Prison Ministries

·         Prison Ministries – Christmas is a difficult time for those incarcerated and their families; you can help in many ways, ask how!

·         Prison Ministry needs volunteers to teach a  Life Skills Class

Youth Reach Out Center

·         Friday Late Night-volunteers needed to bring food and interact with kids (8pm to Midnight). Kid friendly and great for a group!

·         Christmas Party 12/16.  Volunteers needed to bring food items for 100 kids
·         Tutoring

To volunteer for one of these opportunities or to re-engage with one of the Mission’s programs, call the volunteer office at 206.723.0767 or send us an email at volunteer@ugm.org.  Also remember to tell friends and families about these needs! Thank you.

Matt Searfus

Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Outreach Services (VOS)

Seattle's Union Gospel Mission

3800 S. Othello Street

Seattle, WA 98118

206.432.8355-direct line

206.432-8358-Downtown Men's Shelter (Wednesdays)

www.ugm.org

www.hopeplace.org

What is Your Passion?

Tell us what you love to do and we will help you Serve Rescue and Transform those in Greatest Need.

Please Complete this Questionnaire: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9QTT2PF

Event: Bonza Bash NYE 2012: a Diamond Night in the Emerald City Food, Wine, Dancing Benefit for the Washington Food Coalition December 31, 2011

For Immediate Release
Seattle’s Ultimate New Year’s Eve Experience: Bonza Bash NYE 2012: a Diamond Night in the Emerald City
Food, Wine, Dancing Benefit for the Washington Food Coalition December 31, 2011
Seattle—(Nov. 25, 2011)— As Seattle launches into the holiday social scene, the area welcomes the news that Bonza Bash Productions is gearing up for its annual New Year's Eve gala. Announcing “Bonza Bash New Year’s Eve 2011: A Diamond Night in the Emerald City”. This one-of-a-kind, glamorous event stands to be the swankiest NYE event in Seattle – a can't miss social gathering featuring the unique Australian flair that Bonza Bash has become known for. The ball will be held on December 31st, 8:30 p.m to 2 a.m. at the spectacular Hyatt at Olive 8 and will benefit the Washington Food Coalition.
The Bonza Bash is unlike any other NYE event you've ever been to in Seattle. This black tie gala bash features live musical action and DJ's to keep the crowd occupied well into the night. Bonza Bash hosts black tie events for the masses, making glamorous cool again and allowing attendees to dress up and get down while spending New Year's Eve partying in style. The gala benefit will feature numerous VIP options, giving guests a chance to support one of their favorite charities in true Seattle style.
“For guests looking for an upscale, fun, sophisticated night – a Bonza Bash ticket will be just what the doctor ordered,” said David McLauchlan, Bonza Bash Productions co-founder. Brenton Webster, who co-founded Bonza Bash Productions added, “Our guests enjoy something different from the standard NYE club-style offerings out there – the Bonza Bash offers an opportunity for something unique, fun and interesting.”
The black tie dress code encourages guests to dress to impress, with a wide range of tuxedos, dinner suits, colorful gowns and cocktails dresses. Please note that jeans, sports shoes and t-shirts will not be allowed, collared shirts required.
Bonza Bash NYE 2012 will be held from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Hyatt at Olive 8, located at 1635 8th Avenue, Seattle. General admission tickets are $69, VIP are $225. Previous events have sold out so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.BonzaBash.com.
About Bonza Bash Productions
Offering upscale, approachable events, Bonza Bash Productions is locally owned by Australian transplants Dave McLauchlan and Brenton Webster. The six year-old event planning company originally designed its events after Australia’s “Outback Bash”, when people travel from around the world for a
non-profit benefit weekend of upscale events constructed in Australia’s Outback. Bonza Bash events consistently benefit nonprofit organizations with four events a year: Spring, Summer, Halloween and New Year’s Eve. For more details visit www.bonzabash.com, or email info@bonzabash.com.
About Washington Food Coalition
Through its statewide membership, Washington Food Coalition members find practical solutions to common challenges. The Coalition draws on the strength and reach of its membership to equip, educate and empower everyone working to end hunger in our state.
Washington Food Coalition provides the support that is desperately needed to keep our emergency food network strong and supported in these trying times. This produces the ability to serve more hungry people in more effective ways, something that is invaluable in times when demand is up and supply is scarce.
# # #

Highlights from Governor's Supplemental Budget

Governor Gregoire released her Proposed 2012 Supplemental Budget this morning. She proposed more than $2 billion in spending cuts, reductions to local revenue sharing and fund transfers to leave a $600 million reserve.


There are several items that directly link to anti-hunger efforts in Washington:

• Support state food banks - $1.5 million

Increases funding for state food banks that serve 1.5 million clients annually. Funding will provide 4.5 million meals annually. 

• Eliminate State Food Assistance program - $13.9 million

Halts food assistance to an estimated 11,400 individuals each month who are not eligible for federal food assistance or who have not provided documentation of citizenship. 

The major downfalls of the proposed devastating cuts include, in the Governor's mind:

• More than 1,300 low-income individuals with developmental disabilities or in long-term care will lose eligibility for personal care services; 1,000 will lose adult day health services; and 1,000 of their families will lose respite services.
• More than 16,600 offenders will be under community supervision for a shorter period.
• Colleges and universities will see their state support reduced by another $160 million. 
• School districts will lose part or all of their levy equalization support.
• The school year will be shortened by four days. 

The Governor also proposed a revenue alternative to be sent to the public as a referendum to 'buy back' some of these services that were cut. This referendum would be sent to the voters for a temporary one-half cent increase in the state sales tax to:

• Preserve services to people with developmental disabilities and those who need long-term care
• Prevent further reductions to our kindergarten-through-12th grade and higher education systems
• Ensure that offenders are kept behind bars or under community supervision

VISTA position with Lettuce Link @ Solid Ground

Lettuce Link is seeking a Harvest against Hunger VISTA to start January 30^th.  Work in collaboration with Lettuce Link, a program of Solid Ground, Harvest against Hunger and other community groups to expand participation in growing good food and gleaning. Specific responsibilities include: Volunteer Recruitment, Community Outreach, Program Coordination and Sustainability.  This is a good fit if you:

-         Have an interest in and ability to work with people from a variety of racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages.

-         Have worked with volunteer organizations and/or the emergency food system.

-         Are highly organized and self-directed with the ability to speak to groups.

-         Can work independently and collaboratively and juggle many different projects.

-         Are committed to diversity, undoing racism, innovation and community-building.

-         Can work weekends and occasional evenings during the growing season (with time off in exchange).

-         Like to work in an office as well as an outdoor environment, including working in hot or cold conditions and lift 30-50 pounds regularly during the harvest.

-         Are comfortable with web based social networking technology.

-         Can speak Spanish or Vietnamese or Cantonese (helpful but not required)

This is a one year, stipend position. See attached description for more information and apply to Benjamin Rasmus at benjamin@firstharvest.org

MAZON urges you to make your voice heard

Dear Friend, It appears we may have reached a crossroads in our history as a nation. How we proceed - how our elected representatives act on our behalf - will not only effect the quality of life for tens of millions of Americans, but also could determine the competitiveness of our economy for generations to come. If you were waiting for the "right" moment, that moment has arrived. Hunger in America has never been more prevalent. And yet, for the first time in generations, funding  for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) could be in jeopardy. SNAP has historically enjoyed bipartisan support and protection. But the recent stalemate about the debt ceiling, and the "supercommittee" it spawned, has put the fate of this highly effective program - and the 46 millions of Americans who rely on it - at risk. As this threat to nutrition programs has loomed large, MAZON has embraced its leadership role within the Jewish community and in the anti-hunger field. We have taken a firm public position in published editorial articles in major newspapers across the country. We encourage you to read these articles by clicking the appropriate link below: What they're not saying about hunger in America - Des Moines Register, 8/30/11 Putting Jewish values on poor Americans' dinner tables - j. The Jewish news weekly of Northern California, 10/6/11 Americans need supercommittee to maintain food assistance - Detroit Free Press 11/2/11  Where not to cut the budget - Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/5/11 We will continue to fight to preserve the vital support that allows so many of our fellow Americans to put food on the table. But we also need your help! Join us by raising your voice as an advocate for the 46 million Americans who need our help. Urge your elected officials to preserve funding for the nutrition programs that prevent mass starvation in our country. Write, email, or call to remind them that you will not stand for the budget to be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable among us. Together, we can transform how it is into how it should be. Sincerely, Abby J. Leibman President & CEO MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger    p.s. Need help? Visit mazon.org/get-involved/advocacy or call our office at 800.813.0557.

From Feeding America: Action Alert-Urgent Need to Call Congress Today!

November 16, 2011 This message is being sent to network executive directors, public policy personnel, and state associations  Right now, the Super Committee is racing against the November 23 deadline to draft legislation that would cut at least $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit.  Meanwhile, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are still working to finalize the details of their recommendations to the Super Committee, which we expect will include $4-5 billion in cuts to SNAP.    Final decisions are being made this week, and the stakes are high.   Also this week, the House and Senate will consider the final FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2112), which includes funding for TEFAP, CSFP, and WIC. Thanks to your advocacy efforts, funding for anti-hunger programs was protected in the final package, and we are urging Congress to pass H.R. 2112 (also known as the “Mini-bus” Appropriations).  Votes could be as early as Thursday.  For additional details on the Agriculture Appropriations bill, click here. Our window to influence these two important measures is closing fast, and we need every network member to join our national call-in day to urge Congress to protect anti-hunger programs in the Super Committee and to pass the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  Call Today! Your calls and emails are making a difference, but more pressure is needed if we hope to protect programs important to our mission.  Here’s how you can participate in this important national call-in day.  Call Congress!  Time is running out.  We must continue to keep up the pressure and demonstrate strong constituent support for programs that feed the hungry.  Dial 1-877-698-8228 to connect to your members of Congress.  Just stay on the line after your first call and you’ll be connected to your next member of Congress.   Deliver this simple message: I am an employee of [INSERT FOOD BANK], which serves your constituents.  There are two important issues currently before Congress that will affect hungry people in our community, and I’m counting on your support.  First, I ask that you personally weigh in with the Super Committee to urge them to reject any proposals to cut anti-hunger programs like SNAP, TEFAP, CSFP, or WIC as part of any deficit reduction agreement.  Second, I urge you to vote YES on H.R. 2112, which contains the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  My food bank can barely meet the need right now, and cutting anti-hunger programs will increase hunger in our community.    Share!  One call from each food bank is not enough.  Share the action alert and our toll-free hotline, 1-877-698-8228, with your staff and local supporters, and be sure to promote it on your social media channels.  We need to generate thousands of calls nationwide to influence this process.  Help us mobilize the public across the country in support of hungry Americans!

From EFAP: Trends in Washington State Food Banks

It's clear that the strain on Food Banks in Washington State continues to grow! Here are some fresh statistics on the growth in demand on Food Banks from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (the Washington State program that provides assistance to Food Banks):


·         During the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters of FY11 the number of new clients went down substantially (9.7% & 7.7%) while the number of returning clients continued to grow.  Fewer people were making more trips to the food banks, indicating that those receiving help had a deeper need.

·         The above point is substantiated by the fact that the average number of visits per client per year rose from 5.0, where it had been for 5 years, to 5.6 times per year.  This is a significant increase, 12%.

·         In the 4^th quarter of FY11 the number of new clients began to climb again, decreasing from the previous year by only 1.4%.   With the first quarter data of this year we find that the number of new clients have climbed back up almost to last year’s figures, a disturbing trend. 

·         The number of visits (new + returning) continues to climb, to just under 2 million for the first quarter of this year alone.  Keep in mind that the July-Sept quarter has had the fewest number of visits of all the 4 quarters for the last 4 years.

·         The strain on food banks is apparent.  The number of pounds of food given to each person per visit decreased in FY11, the first time in the program’s history that this statistic has gone down.

·         Also perhaps indicative of the times, the value of donated food decreased by over $24 million in FY11 from FY10 and that was even without in-kind food reported by one contractor last year.  That equates to over 16 million pounds less of donated food, using the state’s current value of $1.50 per pound.  The overall pounds of food distributed increased by slightly over 2 million pounds, leading one to the conclusion that food banks and distribution centers had to purchase more food in FY11 than the previous year.

Fundraising Idea: Send An Appeal Letter

Many of our member agencies send out appeal letters at the end of the year. Here are a few tips from Kevin Glackin-Coley of St. Leo's Food Connection on how to make our appeal letter effective:

• Send annual appeal letter so it arrives just after Thanksgiving to give folks enough time to consider an end-of-year gift.  
• Emphasize that all our work is only possible because of community support like theirs.
• Structure the letter to give an overview of what has been new this year - programs added, expanded, client numbers increased.  
• Include some photos for visual appeal, and a couple of highlighted comments from clients/community partners speaking to program successes/effectiveness.  
• Close with a listing of what gifts of various levels will buy and thank them for their on-going support.

Fundraising Idea: Barrel (s) Full of Money

Here is a fundraising idea from our member agency, Blue Mountain Action Council:

Walla Walla Organizations and Businesses Team

Up to Raise A Barrel Full of Money for Food Bank

 WALLA WALLA, WA-  Ten Walla Walla businesses and non-profit organizations, led by the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and its’ member wineries, announced today the kick-off of a two-month fundraising campaign to raise money for the Blue Mountain Action Council’s Food Bank.  The campaign, called A Barrel Full of Money is co-sponsored by Alaska Airlines, Baker Boyer Bank, Columbia REA, the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation and its’ member businesses, Integrity Design and Copy Works, the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center, Oak Tradition, Olander Design, Olive Marketplace & Café, and the Wine Alliance and its’ member wineries.  The campaign launch will take place at Olive Marketplace & Café at 2 p.m. (Wed., 10/19), with the placement of the first barrel.

According to Duane Wollmuth, Executive Director of the Wine Alliance and program coordinator, “the goal of the campaign is to fill two wine barrels with money that will then be used to buy food for those in Walla Walla County who struggle in today’s economy.  Individually, our member wineries have given back to the community in a variety of ways over the past two decades.  We felt that through a coordinated effort and working closely with other community partners, we could go further in helping to ease the financial burden many people feel in putting food on the table.  I know that filling two full barrels is a lofty goal, but if we all contribute in a small way or simply empty the change we collect at home in a jar, we can go a long way in helping BMAC’s food bank.”
The program will take place from October 19 through December 16, 2011 and will include multiple locations in the Valley at which contributions can be made.  Two central barrels will be located at Olive Marketplace & Café  and the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center.  These barrels will have plexi-glass see-through ends so that the public can track the campaign’s progress.  The final count will be conducted by Baker Boyer Bank and will be announced in mid-December.
Kathy Covey, Community Services Director for the Blue Mountain Action Council, believes “the Barrel Full of Money campaign is an ideal way for the community to help those less fortunate.  Each year the BMAC Food Bank distributes an estimated 500,000 pounds of food to those in need through pantries in Walla Walla County.  As everyone knows, the cost of basic essentials, such as food, has risen significantly in recent years.  And, the affordability of these basic essentials has been made even tougher in our down economy.”

Fundraising Idea: Dollar Tree Connection

Here is a fundraising idea from our member agency, Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank:

We’ve developed a great relationship with the Dollar Tree stores through a point of purchase program.  Working with 7 stores, I select which items I want them to focus on.  These items are placed in a basket at each cashier’s station.  As a customer goes through, they are asked by the clerk if they would like to “purchase” an item for the food bank.  Please note that I pick the items for this process AND the customer buys it, i.e, it’s not a donation by Dollar Tree.

Every week, depending on what I’m collecting, I receive somewhere between 1200 to 1800 pounds of product.

So why is it successful?

·        It’s an easy, quick and remarkably inexpensive feel good for the customer.  For a mere buck, they can feel they are giving back to the community and helping someone else.
·        It’s a quick, easy and relatively paperless activity for the Dollar Tree stores.  While they “count” the number of items sold, they don’t have to do any special paperwork or in-depth training of staff.  In fact, I always stake out the sites just to watch the clerks.  If they don’t seem to be asking, I’ll talk to them and show them how easy it is.  On average, 1 out of 3 “asks” will produce a sale.
·        It’s a massive source of their increased revenue.  Their corporate office has been all over this and wants to replicate it.  Our region is now the largest source of revenue of all areas.  Needless to say the store managers LOVE this kind of attention from their corporate bosses.
·        It’s a consistent source of food and non-food items for the food bank.  I can change the package with just a few minutes on the phone to more efficiently fill the gap in what is not coming through food drive.  
·        It’s malleable to whatever I need.  Although my job title has changed, I still do a lot of solicitation for programs other than mine.  For example, our baby program, a subset of our clothing bank, always need new baby clothes, bottles, lotions and potions to keep baby clean and other baby items.  When our director says she’s getting low, I just call the Dollar Trees to get them to change from food to baby items.
·        Since all the items are straight off the shelves, I don’t need to worry so much over code dates or condition, unlike food drive from Second Harvest. 
·        Dollar Tree’s products are mostly name-brand, so the quality is always good and recognizable.
·        You make new friends.  I happened to be talking with a customer about the program, and he got so excited, that he’s now doing a food drive with his company for us.  And his company is 12 miles away!

There are several other reasons why this works, but without a doubt, it’s the easiest solicitation I’ve ever done.  All I have to do is arrange pickup.

From AFP - Take Action: Write to Your Member of Congress - Slashing the Charitable Deduction is now ON the table!

Slashing the Charitable Deduction is Now ON the Table! Take Action – Write to Your Member of Congress (Nov. 9, 2011) Take action today to urge your Members of Congress to oppose any tax reforms that would harm charitable giving! The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is drafting tax code changes behind closed doors, and it is slated to introduce recommendations at the end of the month. It has just been reported that Republicans are open to eliminating certain tax deductions for the wealthy in exchange for a permanent reduction of the marginal tax rates set under President George W. Bush. Now is the time for you to tell Congress to preserve the existing charitable deduction! AFP opposes any proposed change to the itemized deduction (such as a cap or a floor) that would reduce charitable giving. The loss of these charitable dollars will have a direct impact on the nation’s poorest and most disadvantaged. Any changes to the deduction that will diminish charitable giving will eliminate the funds that charities need to fuel their philanthropic missions such as social services, healthcare, education, housing and other essential programs and services that assist those in need. We urgently need your help! Make Your Voice Heard on Capitol Hill!  AFP urges its members to educate their Members of Congress about preserving the current charitable deduction. As a constituent, you represent a key voice that will be heard. Engaging Networks has generously allowed AFP to use their online platform where you can contact your Members of Congress with the mere touch of a button. Please click this link to send an electronic letter to your House member and two Senators of your state (or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1686&ea.campaign.id=12160). If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Jason Lee, AFP's General Counsel, at jlee@afpnet.org.

Thanksgiving meal programs in Seattle

During the week before, during and after the Thanksgiving holiday, a number of churches and community organizations in Seattle offer free or low-cost Thanksgiving meals for individuals and families in the area. Here is a list of Thanksgiving meals being served during the month of November.

Event: 2nd Annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa For Food Connection

2nd Annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa An evening of Irish Food, Music, and Dance to support the St. Leo Food Connection We'll be celebrating St. Patrick's Day a week early this year as we once again gather at St. Patrick's Scool for an evening of Irish food, music and dance in support of the St. Leo Food Connection's emergency food programs.  Tickets are $50 ($500 for a table of 10) and include dinner, drinks, music by Mooncoyne and an Irish dance performance by Evolution Dance. Specialty Irish cocktails will be available for purchase as well. There is also special VIP seating  for $75 ($750 for a table of ten).  These tables will be closest to the stage and will have special servers. Raffle tickets are also available ($10 each or three for $25).  Grand prize - $1,000, 2nd prize $500, 3rd prize $250. Last year's innagural Bia-Ceol-Damhsa was a great success and we hope you will join us this year.  You can click on the link to the right to purchase event and/or raffle tickets.  For more information please e-mail keving@foodconnection.org.  Sincerely, Kevin Glackin-Coley Director, St. Leo Food Connection

2nd Annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa March 10, 2012 St. Patrick School 1112 N. G Street 6:00 - 10:00 PM

You can purchase Event and Raffle tickets online Buy Tickets Now

From Feeding America: Update on Congressional Proposals to Change the Charitable Tax Deduction and Nonprofit Mailing Rate

As Congress continues to develop broad ranging deficit reduction measures, multiple legislative vehicles have emerged that could significantly impact the ability of Feeding America network members to raise funds, most notably limiting the charitable tax deductions for high income tax payers and increasing the postage rates for non-profit mail.  Feeding America has been and will continue to be actively engaged in fighting these efforts.   Please read below to learn what you can do to help.
The first proposal, capping deductions for high income taxpayers at the 28% tax bracket, is being debated in the larger context of the  Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s charge to enact at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction.   Efforts to limit deductions for high income taxpayers, which would include the charitable tax deduction as well as other deductions, are part of this larger discussion.  Limitations on the charitable tax deduction were included in the President’s last three budget proposals, as well as in his JOBS Act recently submitted to Congress.  
The second proposal is a provision in the Postal Reform Act sponsored by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that would raise the nonprofit postal rate over the next six years. Section 403 of the legislation would reduce the current discount rate for nonprofit postage by 5% each year for the next 6 years. Once the rate increase is fully phased in,  the current discount rate will be reduced from 40% to 10% by 2018.  While Representative Issa made changes during the Committee markup of the legislation on October 13 that would mitigate the impact of the changes, Feeding America is concerned that any limitation on the nonprofit mailing rate remains detrimental to the long term ability of nonprofits to communicate with donors. Similar legislation has also been proposed by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in the Senate.
Feeding America has been  meeting with key Members of Congress to communicate the harmful impact these issues would have on our network and the nonprofit community.  Our strategy is to combine our voice with other nonprofits currently working on this issue to demonstrate a broad coalition of support while educating Members of Congress about how these issues would specifically impact our network as part of the “Perfect Storm” narrative facing food banks. Our most recent advocacy activity is detailed below:

• Feeding America has been lobbying the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees with other leaders in the non-profit community.
• We signed on to a letter with Independent Sector (an organization representing leading non-profits that is heavily engaged on these issues) and 125 other nonprofit organizations urging the President and Congress not to put a cap on charitable deductions for certain income brackets.  A copy of the letter can be found here.  Feeding America also signed on to a companion ad that Independent Sector ran in Politico on July 18.  A copy of the ad can be found here.
• Feeding America is part of  a national grassroots campaign to protect the charitable tax deduction organized by the National Council of Nonprofits.  You can read more about the National Council of Nonprofits efforts here.
• In addition, Vicki Escarra and members of the Feeding America policy staff have raised this issue in numerous meetings with Members of Congress and staff and will continue to include it as one of our key legislative messages.
• On October 13 Feeding America held a  tele-town hall for network members located in the states and districts of House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee members, as well as members of the Special Committee on Deficit Reduction on the impact capping the charitable tax deduction will have. These Committees have jurisdiction over tax policy issues and are our top legislative targets on this issue. To view the presentation from the call click here.
• Feeding America is working with Independent Sector and other nonprofit organizations to communicate the significant negative impact any changes to the nonprofit postal rate would have on fundraising efforts. This includes letters Feeding America sent to Representative Issa and Senator McCain on November 1. (here and here)
• Feeding America submitted testimony for the record in response to an October 18 hearing held by the Senate Finance Committee to examine Options for Charitable Tax Reform. A copy of the testimony can be found here.

What can you do to help?

• Sign on to the Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits campaigns to let Congress and the President know they must make no changes to the charitable giving incentive that threaten the ability of nonprofit organizations to continue to serve the needs of individuals and communities.
  • To sign on to the Independent Sector letter, click here. 
  • To sign on to the National Council of Nonprofits grassroots campaign, click here. This letter is scheduled to be sent to Congressional Leadership this Monday, so sign up today.
• Send a letter to your Congressional members letting them know how important protecting the charitable tax deduction is to the work your food bank is doing.
  • To find out more about the issue, including sample talking points and to send a letter to your Member of Congress, click here.
• Send a letter to your Congressional member and Representative Issa letting them know how detrimental increases in the nonprofit postal rate would be to the work your food bank is doing.
  • To find out more about the issue, including sample talking points and to send a letter to your Member of Congress, click here.

If you have any questions about this issue, please do not hesitate to contact Carrie Calvert in the DC Office of Feeding America at ccalvert@feedingamerica.org.

Event: The Thriving Communities Conference

FIRST ANNUAL THRIVING COMMUNITIES FEBRUARY 2–4, 2012 CONFERENCE FEEDING PEOPLE, CULTIVATING COMMUNITY 6449 Old Pietila Road Clinton, WA 98236 Register > Early Bird Registration: $125, through January 1, 2012 General Registration: $145 Meals: $110 for the weekend Lodging: $100 for the two nights For more information visit whidbeyinstitute.org call 360.341.1884 email info@whidbeyinstitute.org Designed for collaborative teams working to create thriving local communities. Register > Join us on South Whidbey Island for our inaugural Thriving Communities Conference, the first in a series of annual conferences exploring the critical issues facing small communities. This year we'll explore how as members of small communities we can work together to feed ourselves while at the same time cultivating a vital sense of community. We'll share our community building experiences around food issues on South Whidbey Island, we'll work in place-based teams to address food issues in our respective communities and we'll join together to make connections and create a regional network. Your team will have an opportunity to create a food road map during the conference that will help your community thrive. Save the date and click "register" for registration details.

THE WHIDBEY INSTITUTE AT CHINOOK  |  360.341.1884  |  6449 Old Pietila Road, Clinton, WA 98236

About Hunger in Washington

Here is some of the latest information on hunger in Washington State. Contact us for sources and more information!

Hunger in Washington


· 1 in 6 people in Washington struggle with hunger.

·  As many as 400,000 children in Washington – or 25% – live in food insecure households.

· Since the beginning of the current recession, the number of Washington families struggling with hunger has almost doubled. From 2008 to 2011, the number of households experiencing hunger rose nearly 100% to more than 160,000 households. This is 6.1% of total households in Washington. Washington’s rate of hunger is 11th highest in the nation.


· 1.6 million low-income residents were served by the state’s emergency food network last year, which is comprised of community action programs, food banks, distributors, tribes, meal providers and other non-profit organizations and receives state and federal funding. 


· The percent of Washington households reporting very low food security, where food intake was actually reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted, increased from 3.6% in 2005-2007 to 5.8% in 2007-2009, the highest rate in more than a decade.

·  In the fall of 2010, multiple food banks are reporting an all-time high record number of clients. The emergency food network distributed over 130 million pounds of food statewide in 2010.


· The number of visits to food banks (visits = the first time someone uses the food bank plus any subsequent visits) went from 7.80 million in FY10 to 7.98 million in FY11, a significant increase. Interestingly, the number of new or unduplicated clients has decreased from 1.56 to 1.43 million. It appears that while some families have gotten back on their feet, those who are still struggling have a deeper need and are utilizing food banks more often. This increase in usage has put the emergency food system under a great deal of stress.


· Households with significantly higher rates of food insecurity include: lower income households, single men, African American and Hispanic households, and households with children headed by a single woman.


· About 985,000 individuals per month in Washington received food assistance through the Basic Food Program in 2010. This was a 20.6% increase from the year before. In terms of dollars distributed, Basic Food issuance (from both federal and state funds) in 2010 totaled over $1.5 billion.


· The National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and the Summer Feeding Programs served over one million adults and children in Washington.


· The Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, (which includes the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program) served over 315,000 state residents in 2010.