Job Opportunity: SNAP-Ed Extension Grant Coordinator

The SNAP-Ed Extension Grant Coordinator provides coordination and communication about the SNAP-Ed grant regarding compliance of SNAP-Ed projects with the USDA-Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Guidance for the following areas: resource management, audience eligibility, program activities, implementation of public health approaches; and allowable expenditures.

The position is also responsible for grant preparation, compliance, and submission; and internal management reviews of county projects as federally required SNAP-Ed quality assurance. The position coordinates and collaborates with the SNAP-Ed Professional Development Coordinator in the training of the statewide SNAP-Ed team on grant requirements and grant preparation and submission.

For more information click here: 

https://www.wsujobs.com/postings/15443

...Another Person's Treasure

WFC had the pleasure to be the beneficiary of an event called Another Person’s Treasure that brought together Brother’s Catering, the Sole Repair Shop, and artists across the city. The two brothers who make up Brother’s Catering featured the phrase, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” by showcasing local artists who utilized recycled goods to create their pieces. In addition to the art, the chef’s created exquisite food that was crafted from donated products and foods that were otherwise not going to be used. The tables were set with second-hand place settings, handcrafted egg-carton sculptures, and dried flowers from old bouquets. Overall this unique event brought people from all over Seattle to one small room to share in the fact that reusing, recycling, and re-purposing items can be quite a beautiful thing.

It was such an honor to sit amongst fellow Seattleites, all sharing in the unique collaborations of flavors that the two brothers put together for us. We were wined and dined through about 10 courses of hors d’oeuvres, consommés, salads, breads, fish, pork, grains, and delightful desserts that were each tactfully put together in the kitchen and made to look lovely on the plate.

We thank you Brothers Catering, Sole Repair Shop, Seattle artists, and the friendly people who sat at our table for the few hours we were there. This evening was a great example of collaboration, creativity, utilizing the food we have, bringing communities together and uniting as a state to help end hunger.

Meet Our Members: Lifelong AIDS Alliance & Chicken Soup Brigade

Last summer, Lifelong Aids Alliance food production and grocery packaging facility relocated to a new Meal Production Center in Georgetown, a neighborhood south of downtown Seattle.  This new location will allow Lifelong to increase their ability to produce 450,000 meals and 70,000 grocery bags within five years.  The new space increased the square footage of their kitchen by 250%.  With generous donations from many donors they were also able to buy new kitchen equipment such as large mixers, baking pans, bowls and utensils.  The move was made possible by a $500,000 challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  An additional $1.5 million was raised to match this grant from generous foundations and donors.

The new space also includes a bright, colorful warehouse which is large enough to distribute 1.5 million pounds of food per year.  Their walk in food bank remains located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.  Chicken Soup Brigade’s (LLAA food program name) clients have specific health challenges, such as HIV, diabetes, kidney disease, cancers, or disabling arthritis. Most are living below the Federal Poverty Level, and all require assistance in managing their nutritional health. Chicken Soup offers a comprehensive food and nutrition program designed not only to feed people but to nourish them.  Their motto that Food Is Medicine is enforced in the quality food programming they offer. 

Grocery Program: Bags of groceries include dairy and meats, fresh produce, a variety of easily prepared comfort foods, and tasty snacks. Last year, Chicken Soup Brigade provided food and nutrition services to 1,591 people in the Puget Sound region. They distributed 36,330 grocery bags and served 149,872 meals.

Meal Program: Homemade meals are prepared in their kitchen, and then are frozen for convenient reheating by their clients at a later time.  Most meals meet the nutritional guidelines of the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association. Specialized meals meeting diets such as vegetarian, no gluten/no dairy or easy digestion are available. (To be eligible to receive these services, a client must be living with a chronic medical condition and meet some other specific criteria.)

They hope to in the near future create a community kitchen, which would increase access to healthy food by giving people the space, equipment, and help required to prepare nutritious meals.

Please, give a few minutes of your time on Thursday to protect EFAP!

A message from Northwest Harvest:

This Thursday, November 20th, Washington State's Senators, both newly elected and returning members, will be in Olympia. This is a GREAT opportunity for us to tell them why they must protect and strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) in the 2015-2017 budget.

We realize that anti-hunger agencies are crazy busy right now with the holidays fast approaching-we really do. It may even be busier than usual with the temporary cuts to food stamps that has affected so many of your clients. But if you can take just a minute or two on Thursday 11/20/2014, you really could make a big difference for hungry families and for your own program.

• Think of a client story which illustrates the need for increasing support for state funding for food banks and protecting the food safety net programs in our state. Perhaps someone who is employed and still struggling to make ends meet, or a senior who is going without enough nutritious food in order to have enough money left to pay for their prescriptions or medical care.

• Take a few minutes to call the State Legislative Hotline THIS THURSDAY 11/20/2014 (1-800-562-6000) Tell the operator you would like to leave a message for your State Senator. Tell them: your name and the program you represent, and say, "It is important to _________(first name of client) that you protect and strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program during the legislative session." Tell them your client's story in a sentence or two that explains who your client is and how the food bank is making a difference in his or her life. It's important to put a human face on the issue.

• Please, if you are able to make this crucial call, take a quick moment to email one of us and let us know that you've done so. This would help us in our continued effort to follow up with not only your legislators, but with those of you who are engaged in advocacy efforts. We'd also like to hear your client stories, either via email or phone. Contact Christina Wong at christinaw@northwestharvest.org or Paige Collins paigec@northwestharvest.org. 

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to let our State Senators know that we need their help in the fight against hunger!

Another Person's Treasure

The evening of November 29th, 2014 marks a truly unique event happening on Capitol Hill in Seattle...Another Person’s Treasure will feature local art and culinary expertise. The theme is based on the phrase, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure,”. The art pieces and meal are designed to touch on the issue of perceived waste in our everyday lives.

APT will showcase the talented minds and hands of Brothers Catering and many local artists. Art pieces will make use of discarded, recycled, and re-purposed materials. The meal will be sourced from local purveyors using produce seconds that are commercially considered “less than perfect” but are still entirely delicious.

Washington Food Coalition is honored to be a part of ...Another Person's Treasure as the sole beneficiary of the event. Whether you are a foodie, an art enthusiast or have a strong desire to fight hunger in Washington State, we encourage all in the Seattle area to attend. 

Purchase a Ticket | RSVP for the Facebook Event 

Meet Our Members: Hopelink

Hopelink provides a strong web of support throughout the Eastern side of King County, with its emergency food services being an important component of its vital services.

With 6 different food bank sites serving their community, Hopelink’s a busy organization. WFC Board Member, Scott Milne, works as the Food Program Manager for all of these sites.

Hopelink has an incredibly wise approach to food banking, stating:

When a family doesn't have enough food - the most basic human need - stability in other areas is impossible. Hopelink provides food for survival and nutrition education for self-sufficiency.

While our food banks help families in crisis, we also believe in helping families to make lasting change by learning about nutrition, safe food handling, and budgeting for groceries.

The Kirkland food bank location is the hub of their emergency food services. This location is open 24 hours a week, and offers after-work hours to accommodate working families. They also offer home delivery for neighbors in their community who are home bound. This location serves about 1200 unique households in the Kirkland area.

Hopelink is aiming long term to continue their increase in fresh foods available to clients and they offer a dignified self-selection shopping model (based on family size) at their Kirkland location. At this location, they also have a large area for weighing, sorting, and storing food until it go out on the shelves or to another Hopelink location. Their shared inventory system among all the sites ensures efficiency and aims for minimizing food waste.

An upcoming event that creates a lot of excitement in the Hopelink food banks is their Christmas distribution program. On the 11^th of December, the staff and volunteers will begin transforming the food bank into a gift wonderland. Then, on December 18-23, families will be able to come ‘shop’ for gifts for the children in their home.

See more images from our visit below!

Recognize an Outstanding Volunteer at Your Agency with the Shanahan Award!

Do you have an outstanding volunteer that you would like to recognize for their work on behalf of your organization?

You are invited to nominate them for the 2014 Rotary First Harvest Shanahan Award. This award recognizes outstanding volunteers who work with hunger relief organizations in our community.

Below is a nomination form for the 2014 RFH Shanahan Award. The deadline for nominations is next Wednesday, November 5th. Shanahan award winners will be recognized at Rotary First Harvest's annual event on Friday, November 21st from noon to 1:30 pm at the Seattle Yacht Club.

ShanahanAwdNom Form 2014

#givingtuesday Begins TODAY!

While many people look forward to 50% off the latest TV on Black Friday or saving on shipping for online purchases of Christmas gifts on Cyber Monday, the Washington Food Coalition is looking forward to Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is Tuesday December 2nd and is a day designated to give money, time, food, and thanks to both local and national organizations, charities, campaigns, and foundations. While in years past people can only sign up to give their money or time on the specific Tuesday, this year donations can begin TODAY! 

WFC is working on a campaign to Protect Food Bank Funding in Olympia in order to help us be better equipped for the legislative session. We hope to employ a lobbyist to be more knowledgeable with our elected officials and better advocate for the alleviation of hunger in Washington State. 

If you would like to know more about #givingtuesday, you can watch this video or if you would like to go right to the Washington Food Coalition page, please click on our link. You can help us with our two specific campaigns or you can donate or pledge specifically to WFC if you would like. If you would like to share what Giving Tuesday is doing and how we can work together to alleviate hunger, please share and follow our campaign page. Join us and Giving Tuesday in celebrating global organizations and the ability to give and work together in new ways.