Update & Action Alert from Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition: Hunger Action Day was a huge success!

Update & Action Alert  Hunger Action Day was a huge success! Last Friday, more than 200 people came together in Olympia to learn more about what's happening right now in the legislative session, what's happening with our priorities, and how we can fight for a more fair, sustainable budget to protect all families in Washington. We had attendees from more than 2/3 of the state's legislative districts - a record turnout! We also had dozens and dozens of online messages from constituents who couldn't get to Olympia but wanted to speak up for hungry families. Between messages and orange scarves, AHNC made a big splash on a busy day in Olympia.   Sen. Ed Murray (43rd LD) kicked off the morning, followed up with great information from advocates from Statewide Poverty Action Network, Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline, Children's Alliance and Washington Budget & Policy Center. Nancy Amidei and Jen Estroff helped people get ready for their afternoon visits to legislators' offices by guiding Advocacy 101 and Advocacy 201 trainings. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to making the day informative, thought-provoking and inspiring - THANK YOU!   It was a tough day to get through to lawmakers, so we appreciate all your visits and your consistent voice for fairness for hungry families. We hope you're committed to keeping up that steady, strong voice throughout the coming budget choices. TAKE ACTION: Call or email your legislators to endorse our priorities by signing on to the letters of support being circulating by our legislative champions. There is a letter for State Food Assistance, for Emergency Food Assistance Program, and for Farm to School/ Small Farms Programs. If a legislator says yes to signing on, or wants more information, contact Christina Wong right away (ChristinaW@NorthwestHarvest.org  or (206) 306-5877).    Your organization can support EFAP funding by signing your organization to thiscommunity support letter (PDF to send to legislators). You can also visit WA Food Coalition's website below to sign onto to the letter there:   https://wfc.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=form_138015   Deadline to sign on is Friday, March 15.   TAKE ACTION: Tuesday afternoon there was a hearing Senate Ways & Means Committee regarding SJR 8205 (Roach), which would permanently enshrine Tim Eyman's 2/3 super majority requirement on taxes into the Washington State Constitution via formal Constitutional Amendment. Contact your state senator and ask them to vote no and refuse to change our state constitution by making permanent an undemocratic and unnecessary budget process now and for all future generations.   Federal Update: Congress must take action before March 1 to avoid devastating cuts to every part of the federal government through sequestration. The White House released this analysisthat provides an overview of some of the loss of jobs, program supports and economic impacts in Washington State.  TAKE ACTION: Call your members of Congress TODAY and tell them to come to agreement to prevent the harms of sequestration without harming low-income Americans. Follow us on