From FRAC: Nearly One in Five Americans Report Inability to Afford Enough Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Adach, 202-986-2200 x3018

Nearly One in Five Americans Report Inability to Afford Enough Food
FRAC Releases 2011 Food Hardship Data, with Rates for the Nation, Regions, States, 100 Large Metropolitan Areas, and Every Congressional District

Washington, D.C. – February 27, 2012 – New food hardship data from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) show continuing struggles with hunger for millions throughout 2011, as nearly one in five Americans said there were times they didn’t have enough money to buy food that they or their families needed.

FRAC’s food hardship report (pdf) analyzes data that were collected by Gallup and provided to FRAC. The data were gathered as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index project, which has been interviewing almost 1,000 households daily since January 2008. FRAC has analyzed responses to the question: “Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?” The report contains data throughout 2011 for every state, region, congressional district, and 100 of the country’s largest metropolitan areas (MSA). Gallup asked the question of 352,789 households in 2011.

Nationally, 18.6 percent of respondents reported food hardship in 2011, an increase from the 2010 level of 18 percent and the highest annual rate in the four years that FRAC has been tracking these data. Food hardship reached every part of the country:

1. Mississippi has the worst rate among states, with one in four households (24.5 percent) reporting food hardship, but 30 states have more than one in six households answering “yes” and the “best” state, North Dakota, still had one in ten households struggling with food hardship.
2. While California is home to two of the worst MSAs (Fresno and Bakersfield), 96 of the 100 largest MSAs had at least one in eight households reporting food hardship in 2011.
   
3. The five worst congressional districts are in Arizona, California, Florida, New York, and Texas, but 384 congressional districts had at least one in eight households reporting food hardship.
   
4. Regionally, the hardest hit were the Southeast and Southwest regions. Every region except for the Mountain Plains had higher food hardship rates in 2011 than in 2010.
   

“Rising food prices, continuing high unemployment and underemployment, and flat food stamp benefit allotments all contributed to the high food hardship rate in 2011,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “Particularly challenging was the increase in food inflation, especially for the foods the government uses to construct the Thrifty Food Plan, its cheapest diet. Food stamp beneficiaries lost more than six percent of their food purchasing power because of this increase.”

The report was released as more than 700 anti-hunger advocates gathered in Washington, D.C. for the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, sponsored by FRAC and Feeding America. The conference will culminate on Tuesday (February 28, 2012) with a day on Capitol Hill, and attendees will share state, MSA, and congressional district data with their lawmakers.

Recent polling data, released last month by FRAC, demonstrate the broad support among Americans for the federal nutrition programs and for a stronger role by government in ending hunger. Seven in 10 voters said the federal government should have a major role to ensure that low-income families and children have the food and nutrition they need. Seventy-seven percent of voters say that cutting food stamp assistance (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) would be the wrong way to reduce government spending.

“Even in difficult times, this nation has the resources to eliminate hunger for everyone. It is crucial that the nation strengthen employment and wages, and improve the federal nutrition programs so benefits are more adequate and so they reach more households. These data show that no state or urban area or congressional district is anywhere close to being hunger-free, and that more must be done to solve this problem,” said Weill. “Polls demonstrate that Americans want the government to attack hunger aggressively, and they reject attempts to cut anti-hunger efforts. It is time to demand that elected officials tackle hunger with the zeal that the situation – and the public – demand.”

The full report is available at www.frac.org.

From AHNC: ACTION Alert: Attend upcoming hearings on revenue bills- pack the room!

ACTION Alert: Attend upcoming hearings on revenue bills- pack the room!

At a 10:30am press conference today, the Senate Budget will be released (Senate Hearing Room 4), and a public hearing is scheduled for 5:30pm this afternoon in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Tomorrow (2/29) at 10:00am in House Hearing Room A, the House Ways & Means Committee will hear several revenue bills, including Rep. Jinkins' capital gains tax (HB 2563) and Rep. Carlyle's bill to sunset and review all existing tax preferences (HB 2762).  

We need to provide a very strong showing of support to underscore the need for new forms of revenue to prevent further devastating cuts.

The AHNC 2012 Legislative Agenda calls for a balanced approach to the state budget as one of our top priorities. In just the past three years, our legislature has already cut $10 billion from education, healthcare and other essential services.

Cuts have been felt in all programs, including hunger-relief programs. We continue to urge the Governor and the legislature to take a balanced approach to addressing our state budget, including new sources of revenue and reviews and reforms our current tax exemptions and expenditures.

Without new sources of revenue, hunger relief programs and other critical services Washingtonians rely on are in jeopardy.  

Please share this alert with your networks. We will continue to send out critical updates and information on opportunities for action as they become available.

From Northwest Harvest: Advocates Update

Advocates Update Wednesday, February 22 IN THIS ISSUE UPCOMING EVENTS State Budget Update President Obama's Budget Proposal UPCOMING EVENTS Feb 29 DSHS Community Brown Bag Learn about recent DSHS program changes.  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Evergreen College-Tacoma   1210 6th Ave, Rm 104 RSVP to: Vicky McLaurin by Feb 24. Mar 15 United Way of King County Hunger Action Program 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m., Seattle Center Northwest Rooms, 385 Harrison St.  Click here to RSVP.  Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 Your Weekly Action Alert:  WA State Budget Update  The House released its supplemental budget proposal on Tuesday morning. The good news is that there are no additional cuts proposed to our state's nutrition assistance programs! The bad news is that many of our state's support services for low-income individuals are cut or underfunded. Read more...  Take Action    President's Budget Proposal  President Obama released his budget proposal for FY 2013 last week and included recommendations that strongly support our federal nutrition assistance and hunger relief programs. Read more...    Please take a moment to thank President Obama for showing such strong support for the programs that help feed our most vulnerable neighbors in need. All it takes is a quick email or phone call to the White House switchboard saying the following:  Thank you, President Obama for your strong support for our federal nutrition assistance programs in your 2013 budget proposal. Restoring cuts to SNAP benefits, maintaining programs that help increase eligibility and access to SNAP, and providing more funds for commodities purchases for food banks are all critical for fighting hunger. As an anti-hunger advocate, I look forward to supporting your proposals to help make sure that hunger relief remains a top priority as Congress begins its budget discussions. You can leave your message for the President by calling (202) 456-1414 or by completing this online form to send an email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments   Once you've sent your message, be prepared to tell our Senators and your Representative about the need to support the President's proposals in the budget process!     The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. Our vision is that ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington state.

From Food Lifeline: 2012 State Budget Request: Find Further Revenue Sources and Protect SFA

URGE YOUR STATE LAWMAKERS TO PROTECT ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS AND INCREASE REVENUE The state house released its budget this week and the senate is expected to release theirs soon. The house budget maintained funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (which helps to keep the lights on and shelves stocked at food banks), school nutrition (free and reduced breakfast and lunch) and the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (which provides vouchers to low-income women, infants, children and seniors to purchase fresh produce at farmer’s markets).  It did not fully fund the State Food Assistance Program (the state food stamp look-alike program for legal immigrants), instead continuing to fund the program at 50%. The budget also failed to provide significant additional revenue sources. By foregoing this discussion, the necessary decision of additional revenue and a more balanced approach to solving our current and long-term budget challenges is only delayed. It merely places a band-aid on a hemorrhage that none of us can stop with spending cuts alone. Click the link below to send a letter to your lawmakers and: 1.    Thank them for preserving some important anti-hunger programs. 2.    Ask them to fully fund the State Food Assistance Program. 3.    Adopt additional sources of revenue to provide a more balanced approach to solving our budget deficit now and in the future. CLICK HERE TO SEND A LETTER!

In other Food Lifeline News... Hunger In Western WA. Join our Advocacy Team! Legislative Agendas Federal State

Summer Meals News: More and more kids in Washington rely on school meals

February 21, 2012 More and more kids in Washington rely on school meals   Over the past 3 school years, there has been an 8% increase in the number of children who rely on school meals. In fall 2011, parents of 467,279 Washington schoolchildren signed them up for free or reduced-price school meals. These kids don’t have to go hungry in the summertime thanks to the federal Summer Food Service Program (Summer Meals). Learn more about Summer Meals and how you and your community can help: WA Summer Meals Guide Summer Meals 101 NEW Summer Meal Fact Sheets - look at your community's program and start planning for 2012   Find out which schools or organizations hosted meal sites last summer and where eligible sites could be for 2012.  See how long sites were open and where service gaps might be.  Talk with current sponsors, identify areas of need and work with community partners to expand capacity. Then pitch in to help build local summer meals options for kids! 2012 Summer Meal County Fact Sheets Check out more resources on the Summer Meals Toolkit Eligible summer meal sites are in areas where more than half the kids are enrolled in free or reduced-price meals at school, or where more than half an area’s residents are low-income. Click here to find out which schools can qualify as a Summer Meal site in your community this summer. For more information, contact Donna Parsons OSPI Child Nutrition Services Director (360) 725-6210   Summer Meals Webinars Take advantage of free training from national and regional experts about starting a Summer Meal program. TOMORROW - Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 2pm:  Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon: "How to Launch a Summer Meals Program"  Feb/March dates: USDA:  "Overview of the Summer Food Service Program" What Organizations and Schools Need to do NOW to become a Sponsor   Organizations that want to sponsor a Summer Meals program work with OSPI to get required training, information and support throughout the spring and summer. Read the overview of sponsor roles/responsibilities and the official OSPI Sponsor Memo File a Letter of Intent to be a Summer Meals Sponsor (deadline is March 9) Attend a required training for Sponsors - dates & locations For more information, contact Donna Parsons, Director OSPI Child Nutrition Services (360) 725-6210   Funding Opportunities for Summer Meal Programs   There are options to help communities fund Summer Meal programs in Washington: Feed Your Brain Grants for summer literacy and summer meal programs in high-poverty, rural communities. OSPI Meals for Kids Grants for start-up or expansion of Summer Meal programs that can fund equipment, training and outreach in any Washington community.  Applications come out in April - you must have a Letter of Intent to be a Sponsor on file at OSPI to apply. United Way of King County Grants for start-up or expansion of Summer Meal programs in King County that can fund equipment, staff and outreach.  For more information, contact Lauren McGowan. The WA Summer Meals Partnership sends periodic newsletters to keep statewide partners up-to-date on the latest information about the Summer Meals Program.  http://www.icontact-archive.com/C9ZecoQL5yw3xrxuUf8TXklzu1CvCE_N?w=4

Hunger Action Week 2012: What's on your plate?

     

March 19–24, 2012 You’re invited to join the conversation about hunger in King County. SIGN UP NOW TO BE PART OF THE ACTION! Spread the word! Forward this e-vite to family, friends and co-workers, or share the news on Facebook and Twitter! Learn more about countless ways you can get involved and spread awareness during Hunger Action Week. ENTER TO WIN a free after-hours dinner party at the University Village Microsoft Store! See more details at unitedwayofkingcounty.org/hunger.

From Anti-HUnger & Nutrition Coalition: ACTION Alert: Contact lawmakers immediately in support of hunger relief programs

The next state economic forecast will be released on Thursday, Feb. 16. We have heard that the House plans to release their budget proposal this Friday or next Monday – please call your Representatives today and ask them to protect the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition’s priorities: State Food Assistance (DSHS), Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (DOH), Emergency Food Assistance Program (WSDA) and school meals (OSPI).

In anticipation of the House and Senate budgets, a number of lawmakers across the state are hosting town halls this weekend. Invite your clients, board members and/or volunteers to join you in letting your legislator know that safety net programs, especially anti-hunger programs, need to be preserved. The other critical message they need to hear is that you – and/or the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition - support robust revenue options to fund these and other essential programs. The town hall schedule is attached.

The Olympian published an editorial last weekend that urges strong support for hunger relief and nutrition programs. http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/12/1987097/we-must-maintain-a-reliable-source.html  We encourage folks to join in on the ‘comments’ section and speak up for the positive impact of our anti-hunger programs.

DSHS will host a community brown bag event on February 29^th in Tacoma, to provide an update of all program changes in the past 6 months in the Community Service Division, and an opportunity to ask questions for clarification.

February 29, 2012

11:30am to 1:00pm

Evergreen State College—Tacoma Campus

1210 6th Avenue Room 104

RSVP: Vicky.Mclaurin@dshs.wa.gov by February 24, 2012
            

United Way of King County is hosting a Hunger Action Forum on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at the Seattle Center. Join food security experts, advocates, policymakers and other community members to discuss: access to nutritious food; childhood hunger; senior hunger; and, public policy and advocacy.

Check-in: 8:30am (Rainier Room lobby)

Forum: 9 am – 4 pm

Seattle Center, Northwest Rooms

305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

Click here to RSVP

Expert Presentation on Kid's Backpack Programs

WFC Members Kris Van Gasken of the Des Moines Area Food Bank and Kevin Glackin-Coley of the St. Leo Food Connection provided a presentation to the Nourishing Networks on how to begin and successfully run a backpack food program for local kids. The audio below presents incredibly valuable teaching on what they've learned.
Click here to download the audio file.
You can also click here to download and listen to a question and answer session that followed their presentation.

From Northwest Harvest: Advocacy Update

Advocates Update Wednesday, February 15 IN THIS ISSUE SAVE THE DATES! Hunger Action Day Photos THANK YOU! Town Hall Meetings Feb 18 Representatives of more than a dozen legislative districts host public town hall meetings with their constituents. Go make sure your voice is heard! See our website for full meeting list.  Rally to Protect Our Future Feb 20 At Tivoli Fountain, State Capitol Campus. RSVP at: OurEconomicFuture.org  Legislative Update Although budget discussions have been quiet since the start of the regular session, we hope to see House and Senate budget proposals after the revenue forecast on February 16. Check your email for more advocacy updates from Northwest Harvest once those proposals are released!   Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 206-625-0755 800-722-6924 See more Hunger Action Day photos on our website! Your Weekly Action Alert:  Thank you for your support at Hunger Action Day  On February 3, Northwest Harvest participated in Hunger Action Day, the annual lobby day for the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition. Over 170 people participated, including food bank staff, constituents, nutritionist students, and members of the AHNC partner organizations.    Participants spoke up for the need for revenue in our state budget and urged legislators to: Protect our state's nutrition assistance programs, including the State Food Assistance Program (food stamps for legal immigrants) Emergency Food Assistance Program (funding for food banks' operations, transportation and food purchasing costs) Childhood Nutrition (the state's portion of the federal school meals program) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (small stipends for low income seniors and families with young children to be used at farmers markets.)    Participants went on over 80 legislative appointments, providing valuable, first-hand accounts on the changing and growing numbers of families experiencing food insecurity throughout our state. Northwest Harvest thanks all of you who joined us for Hunger Action Day 2012 and for making this one the biggest Hunger Action Days yet!  The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. Our vision is that ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington state.

From Food Lifeline: HUNGER ACTION DAY 2012, A GREAT SUCCESS!

HUNGER ACTION DAY 2012, A GREAT SUCCESS! Hello to All, And a very BIG "thank you" to everyone who came out for this year’s annual lobby day! This year Hunger Action Day, put on by the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition, had its biggest turnout ever with 170 people from around WA State! On February 3rd, advocates met with over 85 legislative offices, urging lawmakers to preserve important anti-hunger programs. In the morning attendees were briefed about state hunger relief programs, potential funding cuts or program eliminations, and how to advocate for these vital safety net programs. Volunteers were then given the opportunity to meet with others from their legislative districts and attend appointments scheduled with representatives from the House and Senate. In those meetings volunteers petitioned their legislators, tried to educate them about hunger relief programs and told their own personal stories of nourishment. From directors of food banks, to constituents, to nutrition students, people were able to share interesting and valuable perspectives about the role anti-hunger and nutrition programs play in their lives, the lives of their clients and in the work they do. It was a great, sunny day at the capitol and we thank everyone who helped make the day a success! -The Food Lifeline Public Policy Department

More Food Lifeline News and Events Become an Advocate! 2012 Policy Issues and Priorities Upcoming Events

Recipes for Success - 'Volunteer Times' Newsletter

Best practice from Bellingham Food Bank - 'Volunteer Times' newsletter:

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2012: Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit Comes To Olympia

Press Release

Contact: Julie Washburn                                     Phone: (206) 729-0501

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9 A.M. PST, JANUARY 30th, 2012

Olympia, Washington, February 2^nd, 2012:  Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit Comes To Olympia

Washington Food Coalition is coordinating Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits across Washington to bring the emergency food community together with local specialty crop farmers and their commissions to help these groups learn how their businesses intersect and potential options for growth. We need farmers and producers to attend and find valuable new ways to bring their product to market!

On Thursday, February 3^rd, there will be a Harvest Against Hunger Olympia Area Summit being held at the United Churches of Olympia from 10 am-1 pm. This will be the third of four Area Summits being held across Washington within a year. The first was held in Wenatchee in September of 2011, and the second in Yakima in January of this year.

Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits are the result of a collaborative partnership between Washington State Department of Agriculture, Rotary First Harvest and the Washington Food Coalition.  Using funds from the WSDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, these groups are working together to find new ways to connect resources with opportunities by bringing together groups that might not otherwise have an opportunity to share ideas and resources.  

Over the years, Washington food producers have worked with many hunger relief organizations to help combat hunger in our State. The Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits are designed to bring together these organizations to share ideas and insights about ways that farmers, processors, packers and hunger relief organizations can more effectively work together to alleviate hunger in our communities. 

Hunger and poor nutrition have adverse effects on communities in every region of Washington.  Without access to proper nutrition, children and families struggle to grow, stay healthy and excel in life.     Food banks, meal programs and other groups across the state are working to increase the amount of Washington-produced foods that are available, and they need meaningful connections with producers to identify opportunities that are both effective and sustainable. This innovation and collaboration is critical as the number of families facing hunger continues to grow in Washington due to the current recession.

Anyone who works with or has interest in fighting hunger or strengthening local food systems is welcome at these events.

The final summit is scheduled for:

Seattle Area Summit  February 13th, 2012  Hansen Conference Center (Everett, WA)

To see more details and register for these FREE events, go to www.WashingtonFood.smartevents.com