2012 Food Bank Survey Summary (Chelan, Douglas and Grant Counties)

Community Harvest, a project of Community Farm Connection conducted a survey of food banks in Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties to assess the capacity of local food banks, evaluate current modes of food distribution, and determine the need for more fresh produce.
The goal was to obtain constructive feedback in order to develop the new gleaning project, Community Harvest, in a way that would be beneficial to already existing organizations. This survey was made to be anonymous is desired.
This survey provides some interesting data that will be useful in tracking the progress that this gleaning project makes on helping to supply food banks with more fresh produce. In addition, the survey provides basic information about regional food bank trends and what is desired by food banks in order to more effectively serve their communities.
Some of the significant findings are as follows:

•   According the survey 86% of respondents attributed clientele fluctuation to seasonal work.
  
•   Only 36% of food banks have paid staff representing 5 full time and 7 part time total for all three counties.
  
•   A significant number of respondents mentioned increasing communication as way to improve the food bank system.
  
•   Of the food banks surveyed 100% indicated that their clients desire more fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, 100% of respondents indicated an inadequate supply of fresh produce. One local food bank indicated that in 11⁄2 hours, during the food bank, they can go through over 2,000lbs of fresh produce and still could use more. As a result, many of these food banks purchase fresh produce throughout the year.
  
•   Respondent’s storage capacity for produce varies widely from having walk in coolers to having a couple small refrigerators. This can be a severely limiting factor for food banks to be able to provide adequate quality and quantity of produce to clients on a regular basis. These statements show the need for some of the produce to be processed in order to increase shelf life. For example, when apples are in season drying a portion of donated apples would allow food banks to store more fruit for a longer period of time.
  
•   Over 86% of food banks say that the amount of people visiting the food banks is growing and the remaining 14% say that numbers have remained consistent over the past year. One food bank indicated that clientele has dramatically risen 30% from 2010 and 37% from 2009. Another food bank responded that clientele has more than doubled in the last 6 months. The need for food assistance is increasing, often at alarming rates. Connecting local farms with local food banks is going to be essential as fuel prices rise and more people are relaying on help for basic food needs.
  
  
  Community Harvest is a project of Community Farm Connection, committed to supporting small farmers and improving consumer access to locally grown food. Community Harvest, through gleaning, encourages a reduction in food waste while helping to feed our local community.

Support Washington Food Coalition on SharingSpree.com May 29th-31st!

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Summer Meals News

May 24, 2012   It's Time for Sponsors to Turn in Their Summer Meals Application    Summer meal sponsors are finalizing their plans for this summer's programs and need to turn in their application to OSPI as soon as possible.  Getting applications in now helps OSPI  approve summer meal sites before school lets out and helps us spread the word to families about where to go this summer. For questions about the application, contact Donna Vincent (360-725-6202)   Plan Summer Meals Outreach to Feed More Kids in Your Community   Whether you are a sponsor, meal site or community organization, you can help families learn where kids can eat this Summer.  Consider these outreach strategies to promote Summer Meals:   While school is still in session Publish meal sites on the school menu Send a Summer Meals flyer home with kids Post Summer Meals on the school sign/readerboard Work with your local school to set up automated calls to families over the summer publicizing local meal sites or directing them to call the statewide Family Food Hotline for local site information After school is out Contact the media to help spread the word (newspapers/community blogs/radio/tv) Ask community partners to promote Summer Meals in their place of business at public events, in newsletters and on their websites Make sure banners and signs are easily visible from the street and clearly mark your local summer meal sites Review 47 Ways to Promote the Summer Meals Program in your community Check out more "outreach ideas" on the Summer Meals Toolkit Order Free Summer Meals Outreach Materials   WithinReach is a statewide non-profit organization that connects Washington families to food and health resources.  They offer free materials in English and Spanish to promote the Summer Meals program in your community. Order free materials online Call the Family Food Hotline 1-888-4-FOOD-WA to order outreach materials For more information, contact Sue Waldin (206-830-7646) It's not to late to apply for United Way of King County Summer Meal Grants   Grants for sponsors are still available to expand summer meal programs in King County (non-King County programs are not eligible to apply). Funds can be used for equipment, staff and outreach.   Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until June 15th United Way of King County Grant Application For more information, contact Lauren McGowan 206-461-6973   Summer Meals Resource Toolkit   The online toolkit offers information and resources to help schools and community-based organizations start or strengthen a summer meals program with links to grants, forms, outreach materials and more. Check out the Summer Meals Toolkit     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/C9ZecoQL5yw3xrxuUf8TXjcfob7xzxSy?w=4

No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Webinars Series

No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Webinars Series

REMINDER: May 15 at 4:00 p.m. ET

Summer Meals Program Outreach Webinar

Register for the May 15 webinar through ReadyTalk by Clicking Here

Summer meals are about food, friends and fun! Join us on May 15 at 4:00 p.m. ET to hear about creative and out-of-the box ideas for getting attention about Summer Meals Programs as well as from fellow No Kid Hungry state partners about their outreach plans around media, PSAs and community and faith-based outreach. New and improved resources available to you in the Sodexo Foundation Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit on the Center for Best Practices will be highlighted. An overview of the Deloitte Summer Meals Evaluation Toolkit will also get you thinking about evaluation plans.

                Speakers Include:

·         Rhonda Jackson, New Orleans No Kid Hungry campaign

·         Debra Susie, Florida Partnership to End Childhood Hunger

·         Brain Alexander, Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland

Sign Up for the May 15 webinar through ReadyTalk by Clicking Here

May 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET

No Kid Hungry Social Media for Summer Meals Success Webinar

How can you best use social media and online outreach to increase participation in summer meals? This webinar will feature best practices from the Share Our Strength Web Team, updates from USDA and stories of success from No Kid Hungry campaigns. We will also ask participants to submit ideas they plan to pursue and questions they have prior to the call, making sure we talk about what matters most to you.

This call is a great chance for all No Kid Hungry campaigns and allies to learn more about what’s working in the field.

There are two steps to register:

1. Sign up for the webinar with ReadyTalk: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/30bbfgk13l30
2. Complete a short survey about your ideas and questions related to social media and summer meals: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/presurveysocialmedia

From Northwest Harvest: Advocates Update

Advocates Update Friday, May 11   IN THIS ISSUE UPCOMING EVENTS Attacks on SNAP Take Action   UPCOMING EVENTS May 14 and 21 Community Conversation on the City Budget Seattle City Council  - Central Seattle   May 14, 6 - 7:30pm   Seattle Central College   1701 Broadway, Broadway Edison Building, Rm BE1110   - South Seattle   May 21, 6 - 7:30pm   New Holly Gathering Hall 7054 32nd Ave S.        May 21 Cross Cultural  Training Seattle Food Committee 12:30-4:30 p.m., Solid Ground.   RSVP here      June 1 Northwest Harvest Annual Conference Mercer Island Presbyterian  RSVP today      June 6 Public Health and Food Policy Summit Puget Sound Regional Food Policy Council Event details      Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 Your Weekly Update: Attacks on SNAP In the last few weeks, we've talked about proposals in Congress that will make drastic cuts to SNAP, our federal food stamp program. Here's an update and some information from our partner coalitions on what you can do to help protect and strengthen this program. Read more...         Messages from Our Advocacy Partners Thank you for your efforts to call and email Congress in response to our advocacy updates in the last few weeks about SNAP. If you want to take action to continue educating our Senators and your Representative about the need to strengthen and protect SNAP and the impact that the proposed cuts will have on your program and your community, please take a look at some of the action alerts from our coalition partners: Bread for the World, a coalition of faith-based organizations, has a petition that lets Congress know that it is estimated that on average, church sponsored food banks and meal programs will need an additional $50,000 per year to meet the increased need for services due to loss in SNAP benefits. You can find the petition by clicking here.     The Food Research Action Center has more information about Heat and Eat and talking points for urging members of Congress to protect SNAP in our Farm Bill. Visit their page here.      Leave a comment for the House Agriculture Committee about the importance of SNAP, TEFAP, and CSFP for your program and the customers you serve. The deadline for comments is May 20:  agriculture.house.gov/farmbill_feedback.html.     Find your U.S. Representative here: house.gov/representatives/find/    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.

Social Media 101 Webinar on May 17th

 

Hunger Action Month: Social Media 101 Webinar

 

Join us on May 17th at 2:00 CST for a discussion on:

• Non-Profits & Facebook
• Getting your brand page off the ground
• Building out content & engagement strategies

Please pass this information on to anyone at your food bank that handles social media currently, or may be interested in learning more about social media.

 

May 17th, 2:00 CST

 

Join Online Meeting:

https://meet.feedingamerica.org/alorenz/043K71B2

Join by Phone:

+1 (877) 207-8997 
+1 (312) 583-7328  
+1 (888) 457-4331  
 

Conference ID: 9508905

 

You can now sign up for the Hunger Action Month Webinars and get an Outlook invite via Feeding America University. Just click here and click on 'courses' and then 'events calendar'. Once on the calendar, choose the HAM webinar you are interested in and hit 'request' to enroll. An email confirmation will be sent to you with an attached Outlook Meeting invitation.

McDermott on the Record on SNAP

SUPPORTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL

NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

HON. JIM McDERMOTT

OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, some of

my distinguished colleagues claim that we

must cut spending to protect the future of our

country and our children. But what costs are

we willing to incur with reckless cuts to a critical

program that has helped 46 million Americans

stay fed? If we cut SNAP, we will be

throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Children make up nearly half of the Americans

who rely on food stamps. SNAP continues

to play an instrumental role in our nation’s

economic recovery, helping millions of

struggling American families to feed their kids.

With SNAP, students across the country can

start each day well-fed and ready to learn.

There’s no question that SNAP works. The

best way to shrink the program is not through

funding cuts, but by making the American

dream a reality for all Americans once again.

If we truly want to protect our children’s future,

we cannot steal food off their dinner tables. To

protect our future, we must protect SNAP.

From Children's Alliance: The Facts About “Heat and Eat” and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Washington State

The Facts About:

“Heat and Eat” and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Washington State

Congress is proposing major cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps) at a time when Washington’s caseload continues to grow due to the slowed economic recovery. Washington anti-hunger advocates are concerned about proposed changes to the program  that would have a direct and significant impact on many Washingtonians who rely on nutrition assistance benefits to feed their families.

SNAP is the number one defense against hunger in America and is a vital lifeline for over one million Washingtonians who continue to struggle during these times of severe economic distress. 

What is the “heat and eat” option?

For many families, limited income results in tough choices between “heating or eating.”  For young children, adequate nutrition may be jeopardized because limited funds must go to keeping a roof over their heads and the lights on. 

Congress granted states the flexibility to assist families with high heating costs by providing a Standard Utility Adjustment (SUA), particularly important to areas of Washington with severe winters.  In 2009, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services expanded the number of households able to receive this SUA by implementing a “heat and eat” $1 benefit from the LIHEAP energy assistance program. This special LIHEAP benefit simplifies the benefit calculation for these households and significantly increases their SNAP benefits.

What is the proposed change to this option?

The Farm Bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee in April 2012 includes a $4.5 billion over ten years cut to SNAP created by increasing the threshold amount of LIHEAP needed to trigger the SUA to $10.  The proposed change would place the “heat and eat” option out of reach of states like Washington who are experiencing reductions in LIHEAP funding. 

What is the impact of the proposed change to “heat and eat” on hungry families and local communities?

The change to the “heat and eat” option is not simply a technical change.  It is a change that would reduce SNAP benefits for a minimum of 200,000 households in Washington by $90 per household per month, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

When implemented in 2009, the “heat and eat” option resulted in increased benefits for 40% of Washington’s SNAP caseload, resulting in an additional $42 million in benefits spent in Washington grocery stores in 2009.  With a total of $9 of economic activity per each $5 of benefits spent, this change created $75 million in the stalling economy. 

Since fiscal year 2009, when the option was implemented, the number of Washington households receiving SNAP has increased by nearly 50%. Loss of the “heat and eat” option now would take $218 million in benefits away from Washington families, and $388 million in total economic activity away from the state’s economy.

What is the impact of the proposed change on the State of Washington?

Implementing the “heat and eat” option streamlined administration of SNAP in Washington, saving the equivalent of 14.5 full-time equivalents.  Workload savings occurred because eligibility workers did not have to comb through utility bills, landlord statements and other documentation to verify utility expenses of families qualifying for SNAP. 

Between 2008 and 2012, local Community Services Offices lost 410 FTEs due to state budget reductions and hiring freezes.  Implementing “heat and eat” as well as other options to streamline SNAP administration allows DSHS to continue to provide timely benefits to eligible and hungry Washington families.

Joining together to oppose the change to “heat and eat”

Governor Christine Gregoire has joined anti-hunger advocates in calling on Washington’s Congressional Delegation to voice their opposition to the proposed change to “heat and eat” to House and Senate Agriculture Committee members. 

As Washington continues to rebuild from the severe economic downturn, SNAP benefits are a critical support to working families.  This is not the time to restrict state options to streamline the program, or eliminate state options that make SNAP more responsive to households affected by high heating costs.

We urge the US Congress to strongly support retention of the “heat and eat” option in the SNAP program in the 2012 Farm Bill.

__________________________________________________________

For more information, contact Linda Stone, Food Policy Director, Children’s Alliance, linda@childrensalliance.org and 509-844-1314

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