From Northwest Harvest: Advocates Update

Advocates Update Wednesday, August 29        IN THIS ISSUE UPCOMING EVENTS SNAP Works Thank you!   UPCOMING EVENTS    October 3 - 5 Washington Food Coalition Annual Conference      Campbell's Resort, Chelan.  wafoodcoalition.org /conference-2012    October 17 - 19 Children's Alliance Advocacy Camp North Bend, WA. Last chance to apply: Sept 5! Contact Christina for more information, including possible tuition assistance from Northwest Harvest.    Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 Your Weekly Action Alert SNAP Works As the Republican and Democratic parties get together for their national conventions to talk about their visions for our country's future, food stamps and other services for low-income families will be a major part of the discussion. Please take a moment to watch this video that presents a positive message, reminding us that SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) works: SNAP Works Read more about the connection between hunger and deficit reduction...  Thank You For Your Advocacy!Many thanks to all of you who have been collecting, writing, and delivering messages for our "Fill Refrigerators First!" campaign to let our Congressional representatives know how proposed cuts to food stamps in the Farm Bill will hurt real people here in Washington. You can continue to collect messages through the end of this week, Aug. 31. If you live in the 3rd (Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler), 8th (Rep. Dave Reichert) or the 9th (Rep. Adam Smith), please consider taking the extra step of hand delivering your messages to their local district offices before they return to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 3. If you're interested in dropping off your messages, please contact Claire Lane at Within Reach to coordinate. Otherwise, please feel free to mail or fax your messages to Christina at Northwest Harvest at 206.267.2179. 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.

2012 Seattle Van Tour “Personal Experience”

Read this article with reflections, information and photos on Seattle Food Committee's Van Tour from WFC's Susanne Peterson

As one of the attendees of the SFC Van Tour (on Monday, August 13, 2012), I wanted to provide a brief summary of my personal experience.  First of all, the tour was well coordinated and organized, and the destinations we visited gave us an inside view of a wide variety of programs and services.  It really was incredible to experience the “feel” of places, in addition to meeting the people who make the programs work.  I was impressed with everyone we met – their dedication, enthusiasm, and most of all, their commitment to provide environments of safety, integrity, and support.

It was fascinating to hear about how the Queen Anne Food Bank was “resurrected” and is run by only 1 full-time employee and 50 volunteers!  The food bank works out of the basement of a church with a labyrinth of tiny rooms; how they can manage to serve over 2,000 sack lunches and 250 grocery bags a month out of that small space is mind boggling.    

The Recovery Café was such a contrast – it is beautiful and light and airy.  Again, amazing stories of recovery and integrity.  Loved the fact that there was a yoga class going on when we were there (talk about support).   

ACRS was the next stop and I had no idea that place existed…again, beautiful and vibrating with activity.  They have created an amazing community hub where they provide a wide range of services (it’s worth a visit to see the amazing artwork too).  

I think my favorite place, in terms of its history and location, was El Centro de la Raza.  Located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, El Centro de la Raza began in a decaying, dilapidated, and abandoned 3-story elementary school building.  Essentially, a 3 person delegation began occupying the building on October 11, 1972, and thus began a now 37-year historic journey to serve and empower all whom they reach.  While standing in the main hallway, I was inspired by a poster that read "If you don't vote, you don't count."  They are an amazing organizing working night and day to support and empower the community.  There is more about there history at http://www.elcentrodelaraza.com/AboutUs/history.htm.  

Last but not least was a visit to the Community Lunch program on Capitol Hill at All Pilgrims Church.  Again, with only 1 paid employee and a cadre of volunteers, they create community, not refusing service to anyone (there are exceptions) and serve lunch to on average 250-300 homeless and low-income people and serve a hot and nutritious dinner to over 100 on Thursday evenings.  Again, integrity, safety & support manifest in every action.  Really an amazing day of remembering what can happen when the community comes together to care for each other.

Washington Food Coalition on KLAY Radio

Use the audio player below to hear Executive Director Julie Washburn interviewed on KLAY Radio.

Note: The audio file is the entire hour of the radio show. The WFC interview is 3/4 of the way through the audio file.

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From Feeding America: Four Ways to Make your Voice Heard during August Recess

It’s August and that means legislators are back home for their Summer Recess—meeting with voters, catching up on the issues that are important to you, and getting ready to get back to work in the fall. Now is the perfect time for advocates like you to help us educate Members of Congress about the need to protect and strengthen programs that put food on the table for hungry Americans.
 

Four Ways You Can Help  

It’s easy to make an impact during the August recess. Here are four simple actions you can take to help raise awareness of hunger in America with your legislators before they go back to Washington:
 

• Post a comment on your legislators’ Facebook Wall or tag them in a message urging them to help America’s seniors, children, and low-income families by protecting hunger-relief programs in the Farm Bill.
• Send your Member of Congress a tweet about the importance of passing a strong Farm Bill that invests in programs that put food on the table for hungry Americans.
• Attend a town hall or event with your Member of Congress during the recess and ask them what they plan to do to protect hunger-relief programs in the Farm Bill.
• Consider drafting a short LTE to your local newspaper calling on your representatives in Congress to focus on working toward a hunger-free America by passing a strong Farm Bill that protects programs that help feed Americans struggling with hunger.
   

By reminding our legislators about their duty to serve and protect all Americans—especially seniors, children, and low-income families fighting hunger—we can help make sure Congress understands that hunger costs us all.
 

Let us know how you’re helping raise awareness of hunger during August Recess. Post a note on ourFacebook Wall, tweet at us (@FeedingAmerica), or send us an email today!

Meet Our Members: 2012 SFC Van Tour

2012 SFC Van Tour

On Monday, August 13, 2012 over 40 individuals from food banks, meal programs, the city and state, and food distributors attended the annual SFC Van Tour. This year’s tour gave attendees the chance to learn about a few of Seattle’s meal programs and the work they’re doing in the community.

On the Van!

1st Stop: Queen Anne Food Bank

Elise tells us about the QAFB

The Queen Anne Food Bank operates a sack lunch program five days a week and a food bank one day a week.  The food bank closed temporarily in November 2011 when St. Vincent de Paul could no longer fund it. However, in February 2012 it reopened with support from the community. Now with donated food, one paid staff member, and 50 volunteers, the Queen Anne Food Bank serves 2,400 sack lunches and 250 grocery bags a month.

David fills us in on Recovery Cafe

2nd Stop: Recovery Café
Recovery Café is a recovery support center that provides several services to its members; among those services are lunch and dinner provided daily Tuesday through Saturday.  Meals are prepared from scratch by members who volunteer to cook. The Café also has an espresso machine that was donated by Starbucks. Café Vita donates coffee and maintains the machine. Members can be trained as baristas, and there is a latte hour most weekdays.

Delicious Katsu burger!

3rd Stop: ACRS (Asian Counseling and Referral Service) – Club Bamboo
Club Bamboo at ACRS provides lunch and socialization activities for seniors Tuesday through Friday.  After an energizing line dancing class, people can come together and enjoy the delicious lunches served by Club Bamboo; van tour participants were lucky enough to enjoy one of these lunches. Our lunch menu was: Katsu burger, potato salad, grapes, pears, and sweet potato fries!
In addition to the meal served at Club Bamboo, ACRS also works closely with organizations in the community to provide ethnic hot meals to seniors.

4th Stop: El Centro de la Raza

El Centro's de la Raza's Meal Program

El Centro de la Raza operates a Latino hot meal program and a food bank.  Their hot meal program has specific meals for youth and seniors and a lunch hot meal open to anyone Monday through Friday.  Their food bank is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. They provide approximately 2,000 bags of food a month, and 90% of that food is donated.  They serve a large Asian population, and estimate that there are about five different dialects spoken among their clients.

Don tells us about Community Lunch

5th Stop: Community Lunch on Capitol Hill at All Pilgrims Church
The Community Lunch on Capitol Hill was our last stop on the van tour.  They serve 40,000 hot meals every year using over 120 tons of food!  Hot meals are served Tuesday and Friday at noon and Thursday at 5:00 pm.  Community Lunch receives from Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and grocery rescue programs.
Don was especially generous and served us ice cream to celebrate Alison's time as the Food Resources Program Assistant; she will be missed!

More Photos from the Tour:

The group eats lunch at ACRS' Club Bamboo.

Information on Club Bamboo

Denise tells the group about El Centro's history.

David shows off Community Lunch's kitchen.

The group in El Centro de la Raza's Food Bank.

Lester picks up his delicious lunch.

Gary Tang tells the group about ACRS.

Recovery Cafe's espresso machine, donated by Starbucks.

From Northwest Harvest: Advocates Update

Advocates Update Tuesday, August 14       IN THIS ISSUE UPCOMING EVENTS Hunger, SNAP and the Farm Bill Take Action!   UPCOMING EVENTS    October 4 - 5 Washington Food Coalition Annual Conference     wafoodcoalition.org /conference-2012    October 17 - 18 Advocacy Camp Sponsored by   Children's Alliance.    Applications due Sept 5.  Scholarships may be available from Northwest Harvest. Contact Christina  with questions. Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 Your Weekly Action Alert Hunger, SNAP and the Farm Bill  Congress has adjourned for the August recess without passing a Farm Bill. Threats to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) are still on the table.  Read more...       Take Action:    The August recess is a great time to meet with or call your U.S. Representatives while they are back at their district offices. We need to take this time to remind them that now, more than ever, we need to protect and strengthen SNAP and to vote NO on a Farm Bill that makes deep cuts to the program.   Here are two things that you can do: Call, email, or visit your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to support House Resolution 760 that opposes the $16.5 billion cut to SNAP in the House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill.           Share our infographic that explains the connection between SNAP and the Farm Bill and the impact of the proposed cuts here in Washington! You can print the full-size poster (PDF) or use the JPEG version to share on your Facebook, Twitter or blog pages. When you Facebook or tweet the picture, please tag us so we can see your post! Infographic (PDF)  Infographic (JPEG)  Find your Representative and their district office information here:  http://www.house.gov/ Simply type in your zip code in the box on the top right corner of the page. 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.