Washington Food Coalition News

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

2012-02-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

Press Release

Contact: Julie Washburn

Phone: (206) 729-0501

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 A.M. PST, JANUARY 30^th, 2012

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

WashingtonFood Coalition is coordinating HarvestAgainst Hunger Area Summits across Washington to bring the emergency foodcommunity together with local specialty crop farmers and their commissions tohelp these groups learn how their businesses intersect and potential optionsfor growth. We need farmers andproducers to attend and find valuable new ways to bring their product to market!

On Thursday, February3^rd, there will be a Harvest Against Hunger Olympia Area Summitbeing held at the United Churches of Olympia from 10 am-1 pm. This will be the thirdof four Area Summits being held across Washington within a year. The first washeld in Wenatchee in September of 2011, and the second in Yakima in January ofthis year.

Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits are theresult of a collaborative partnership between Washington State Department ofAgriculture, Rotary First Harvest and the Washington Food Coalition. Using funds from the WSDA SpecialtyCrop Block Grant, these groups are working together to find new ways to connectresources with opportunities by bringing together groups that might nototherwise have an opportunity to share ideas and resources.

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

Hunger and poor nutrition have adverse effects oncommunities in every region of Washington. Without access to proper nutrition, children and familiesstruggle to grow, stay healthy and excel in life. Food banks, meal programs and other groupsacross the state are working to increase the amount of Washington-producedfoods that are available, and they need meaningful connections with producersto identify opportunities that are both effective and sustainable. Thisinnovation and collaboration is critical as the number of families facinghunger continues to grow in Washington due to the current recession.

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

The final summit is scheduled for:

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

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

Meet Our Members: NW Harvest Focus Group report

2012-01-28T11:11:00.000-08:00

From Northwest Harvest

Annual Focus Groups

For the past five years, we’ve conducted focus groups with hundreds of food bank clients in different communities across Washington and shared their stories with our coalitions, legislators and others who can help fight hunger through policy work. We seek to amplify the voices of those we serve through our annual focus group reports.
This year Northwest Harvest completed our annual focus groups in five distinct communities around the state. We visited Hoquiam Food Bank, Okanogan Food Bank, Yakima Food Bank, Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia and Skagit Valley Neighbors in Need in Mt. Vernon.
Clients joined our facilitators for conversation about their experiences of hunger and securing enough food to feed themselves and their families. In each community, the value of people talking together about their common struggles was evident. Participants were able to learn from each other’s stories and share information about community resources.
We learned a great deal from them; we hope you will also learn from the first-hand experiences of these neighbors and constituents when the complete report is released in January. We will share the results with our coalitions, legislators and others who can help fight hunger through policy work.

View previous reports:
2012 Focus Groups (PDF)
2011 Focus Groups (PDF)
2010 Focus Groups (PDF)
2009 Focus Groups (PDF)
2008 Focus Groups (PDF)

We also work to raise consciousness about the extent of hunger in Washington through our quarterly newsletter, our broad volunteer work, our Speakers Bureau and our frequent food drives and other events.

For more information on our Annual Focus Groups, contact Elise DeGooyer at elised@northwestharvest.org or (206) 923-7423.

For more information on how to get involved with Northwest Harvest’s advocacy work, please contact Christina Wong, Public Policy Manager, at 206-923-7465 or christinaw@northwestharvest.org. You can also sign up to receive email alerts below.



Join Our Email List Email:

Important Info for Food Lost in Power Outage

2012-01-27T20:43:00.001-08:00

Current recipients of the Basic Food supplement could be eligible for replacement benefits if food was destroyed by recent power outages

DSHS can replace EBT benefits for recipients of Washington’s Basic Food program if food was lost due to a household disaster or misfortune, including events such as a house fire, long-term power outage, or other weather-related mishaps that were beyond the customer’s control.

For DSHS to replace the benefits, the customer must report the loss within 10 days from the date the loss occurred. DSHS will replace the value of the amount of food lost in the disaster, up to the total amount of the customer’s monthly allotment of Basic Food.

To report a loss and request benefit replacement, customers can visit their nearest Community Services Office or call the toll-free Customer Service Center at 1-877-501-2233.

For program questions, contact Community Services Division Customer Relations at: (360) 725-4763 or 1-800-865-7801.

Public Policy Brief from Washington Nonprofits

2012-01-24T07:58:00.001-08:00

	Public Policy Brief - 1/23/12 Building a strong, collaborative network of nonprofits serving Washington communities.
		This Week in the Legislature Week 3 - Bills in Committee This past week the Legislature battled snow, ice, and even loss of electricity but committee action continued mostly uninterrupted. Read below to find out about bills affecting the nonprofit community that are now in committee. Nonprofit Contracting & Governance HB 2264 - Requires the DSHS to execute a new procurement for performance-based contracts. The bill clarifies that procurement for services not is subject to certain competitive bidding processes. HB 2293 - Expands consumer cooperative provisions and establishes new meeting notice and other requirements under the Nonprofit Miscellaneous and Mutual Corporations Act. HB 2239 – Creates a new type of organization known as a social purpose corporation in which board members cannot be held liable for losses due to the pursuit of a stated social purpose. This bill is up for executive session this week. SB 6076 - Creates a new retail liquor license for nonprofit organizations whose primary service is providing recreational and social activities for seniors on the licensed premises (senior centers). SB 6125 – Authorizes Port districts to contract with service groups without conforming with competitive bidding procedures, under certain circumstances. Health & Human Services HB 2289 - Authorizes the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to establish at least two sites to begin implementing Family Assessment Response (FAR) within Child Protective Services. Requires the DSHS to develop an implementation plan in collaboration with stakeholders. SB 6051– Allows for the donation and redistribution of unused prescription drugs under certain circumstances. SB 6309 – Requires hospitals to provide uninterrupted periods for meals and rest breaks. HB 2341 – Requires nonprofit and public hospital district hospitals to complete a community health needs assessment every three years and a community benefit implementation strategy within a year of the community health needs assessment. Establishes three standards that a nonprofit hospital must use to demonstrate that it is meeting its community benefit obligations to maintain its nonprofit status. Elections HB 2204- Allows a person to participate in an election by registering to vote on Election Day. HB 2205 - Authorizes persons who are at least 16 years of age, and who meet all other voter registration requirements, to register to vote with the office of the Secretary of State. This bill does not change the minimum voting age of 18 years. Economic Development & Energy HB 2374 - Requires Associate Development Organizations (ADOs, which include nonprofit Economic Development Commissions) to meet and share best practices with each other at least twice annually. Adds data and reporting requirements to ADOs, the Washington Economic Development Commission, and the Department of Commerce. HB 2198 - Expands the Renewable Energy Investment Cost-recovery Incentive Program to include energy storage facilities. Community solar projects are eligible for the incentive program. stronger together
	Session Resources Next Week's Committee Schedule The weekly meeting schedule provides committee information on all work sessions and public hearings scheduled for next week. Make Your Voice Heard The Legislature maintains a Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for Hearing 1-800-635-9993). Call to leave a message to your legislator about a bill or legislative topic. Operating Budget Primer The House Office of Program Research has written a 2011 Budget Briefing Book that provides an excellent overview and specific topical information relating the state’s operating budget. This is a great reference for those who want to dig a little deeper into the budget issues.
	calendar of events:
	Governance Symposium On The Road Join Washington Nonprofits, local board members and staff from nearby communities to engage in this critical thinking symposium designed to provide new perspectives and stimulate new thinking about leadership in the nonprofit sector. Cathy Trower, a senior research associate at Harvard Graduate School of Education will provide a videotaped keynote. She has studied nonprofit board governance, faculty employment issues, policieis and practicies since 1996. Cathy provides governance consulting services to independent schools, colleges, universities, foundation, and community service organizations. Symposium locations throughout the State will be announced in the near future. For more information contact Genia Seghetti at 509-688-4568. Aberdeen Governance Symposium presented by WN in partnership with Grays Harbor Community Foundation January 25, 2012 8:30-12 PST South Shore Mall - Community Room 1017 South Boone Street Aberdeen, WA Register Bankers' Hours Nonprofit Series February 27, 2012 12:00pm PST Pacific Contental Bank - Seattle office 1100 Olive Way Suite 102 Seattle, WA Join Pacific Continental Bank for a noon time chat with Pamela Block, an influential officer and management executive for MissionWise® of Seattle. She is responsible for the organization's fiscal and strategic direction. Email Sarah McCrum for more info> Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference February 16, 2012 Spokane Masonic Temple 1108 W Riverside Avenue Spokane, WA The 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference will be hosted Thursday, February 16th, 2012. The one day event is an educational conference offered solely for the advancement and resource enhancement of area nonprofits. Several class presentations by area experts will cover topics such as grants, marketing, financial, and other current topical issues. Several networking opportunities and an exhibitor space are available throughout the event as well as lunch with keynote speaker, Deanna Davis, Ph.D., MPH. learn more> Non Profit Insurance Program (NPIP) Annual Conference March 30, 2012 Spokane Davenport Hotel 10 S Post Street Spokane, WA This year's annual conference will be held on March 30, 2012, at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. Mark your calendar and come and enjoy a day of learning and collaborating with other nonprofit leaders. Not an NPIP client? See www.npip.org. Email Lisa Sieverkropp for more info> To place an event on our events calendar, please contact Genia Seghetti, Communications and Memership Manager. Email: genia@washingtonnonprofits.org Phone: 509-688-4568

Great Resources in Clearinghouse Connection from WhyHunger

2012-01-17T11:32:00.001-08:00

NEWS

Stories from the National Hunger Hotline: Helping Those Who Serve

The National Hunger Hotline (NHH), a service of WhyHunger's National Hunger Clearinghouse, provides real-time referrals for people in need across the U.S. to emergency food and assistance programs. Receiving an average of 700 calls per month, the NHH is a portal to information, assistance, and resources, ultimately empowering families and individuals to meet their vital needs including fresh, healthy food. In Stories from the Hotline, we share some of the experiences of callers and our efforts to support them.

An administrator from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Boston, MA recently called the National Hunger Hotline after noticing a flyer inside a local community center. The administrator was interested in starting a meal program that would provide food for low-income children during their winter and spring breaks. Students who are in need of food are guaranteed breakfast and lunch through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and National School Breakfast Program (NSBP), but these programs do not run when school is not in session.

The advocate was able to assist the caller by sending her the information for the At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program run by the USDA and now offered in Massachusetts. The program works to provide dinner and snacks to children in need year round. The advocate also provided the number to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which helps community-based programs and public institutions provide summer meals, breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner for children who are under the age of 18. With these two resources, the NAACP Administrator will be able to set up both programs in her area to help with the hunger children face when school is not in session.

The National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3 HUNGRY and 1-877-8 HAMBRE (1-866-348-6479 and 1-877-842-6273) refers people in need of emergency food assistance to food pantries, government programs, and model grassroots organizations that work to improve access to healthy, nutritious food, and build self-reliance. Help is available on Monday through Friday from 9am-6pm EST. Hablamos español. The Hotline is funded in part by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

STATE OF AFFAIRS

Education, Accessibility and Healthy Foods: Keys to giving infants a good nutritious start

By India Rodgers, Program Assistant, National Hunger Clearinghouse

The National Hunger Hotline works to provide those in need with food resources in their local area, with a focus on providing healthy alternatives in the context of a highly processed, unhealthy food supply. Over the past few months, advocates at the call center have noticed an increase in calls requesting infant formula.

Infant formula is one of the most difficult items to have donated at food pantries, and most food banks have very limited supplies. Formula does not have the same shelf life as other canned items and requires a well-trained staff: nutritional content degrades and clumping can occur after the "use by" date. In some cases, pantries may not even be aware that there is a demand for formula or how to handle an infant food drive.

At the Orange County Food Bank in California, the Executive Director has also seen an increase in the demand for infant formula. Due to budget constraints, however, the food bank is not able to increase the amount of formula available to clients, ultimately turning away 500 infants yearly due to the shortage. Other institutions such as the Pierce County Food Bank in Florida rely on mothers/caregivers to meet their infant formula needs through the Women, Infant and Children's program (WIC), a government nutrition program that is not always able to deliver on demand. And while applications are being completed for WIC, there are still children in need. Worse still are instances in which children are not able to receive any benefits because their parents make as little as three dollars over the limit.

This article explores the underpinnings of the infant food system- from its role in government nutrition programs, to alternatives including breastfeeding and innovative programs that are providing education and breaking down access barriers.

Who Uses Infant Formula

Makers of infant formula have specifically targeted women in lower socio-economic classes; women who do not have the same access to information, health care, and transportation by providing free gifts of formula to new mothers at hospitals and clinics. Women may be too trusting when a medical authority gives them a gift and encourages both its use and health benefits. WIC currently distributes over half of the infant formula sold in the U.S. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that mothers on WIC are less likely to breastfeed.

The state of Rhode Island has become the first to prohibit this practice of distributing free formula unless the mother has difficulties with breastfeeding. As an alternative, there are educational courses at local community centers and lactation counselors to guide women through the process of breastfeeding. The public health commissioner stated that free infant formula decreases breastfeeding and often uses vulnerable women. In the scientific journal Pediatrics, a study showed that even though most hospitals in America still use freebie bags, hospitals that have removed the bags had better health outcomes for the child.

The Mocha Manual and La Leche League attempt to educate and empower women about the advantages of breastfeeding.

Price of Formula

The price of formula has steadily risen since 1980 and can cost a mother almost 150 dollars a month. WIC is a service that provides low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and infants as well as children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk, access to supplemental foods, including formula. Though on the surface this seems like it is helping to close the gap of health in America, when it comes to the issue of infant formula, WIC could be even more helpful if it partnered with lactation specialists and encouraged its pregnant clients to breastfeed while focusing on boosting their own health through proper nutrition to provide the best start for their babies.

The Process

Anyone who has gone through the process to apply for SNAP (formerly, known as food stamps) knows that this is often a time consuming and arduous process. Applying for WIC is no easier. Getting an appointment can take many calls to the office. And once she has an appointment, a woman may have to take off work to make the time slot provided, risking pay loss. She will also be required to take the child to the physician and then wait for the system to process the application and send the check. WIC checks limit the items that can be purchased, come with a deadline, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.

Additional Barriers (or: Conflicting Programs)

WIC's services are restricted to individuals that live at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level which is around $45,000 or less per year for a family of four. Many food banks participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), another federal food program that services woman in need of infant formula. However, food bank clients may find that they are not able to access CSFP while receiving WIC benefits. And, as stated above, many food pantries face barriers to offering infant formula, requiring a woman to call many clinics or pantries in an attempt to feed her infant.

Conclusion

At its core, the system which makes infant formula readily available to low-income women is politically-charged. Ensuring that women have access to proper education, tools, and resources in order to make an informed decision that's in the best interest of their children is critical. When industry pushes products on individuals, freedom of choice is limited. Whether shortages at food pantries, inefficiencies with WIC or the lack of popular education, ensuring infants get the most nutritious start possible is an issue that deserves immediate dialogue and resolution.

RESOURCES

Capacity Building Guides

As a result of research and interviews with Emergency Food Providers across the country about unmet needs, the National Hunger Clearinghouse will release two capacity building guides in late February. The first is a guide to food sourcing, which inventories exciting projects and strategies in sourcing that connect food pantries with local farms and source higher quality animal protein. Emergency food programs are an important part of the food system and have the potential to help revitalize local and regional food economies while better serving their customers. The guide will include model program profiles, best practices, and additional resources.

The second guide will be a literature review on nutrition education resources. It will include best practices, an annotated program guide, other resources, and a gap analysis of existing programs.

Both of these guides will be available to Clearinghouse Connection subscribers and by emailing nhc@whyhunger.org and will be used to promote further conversation among providers at conferences and webinars. There are innovative programs out there and we want to connect new audiences to those ideas and initiatives so they can invigorate their own work.

USDA Updates

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Introductory Webinars!

USDA provides a free or reduced-priced lunch to 22 million children during the school year. But once school lets out for summer break, only about 2.5 million children receive a meal (about 1 in 10). Children are at a higher risk of going hungry during the summer months. There is work to be done to help feed more kids nutritious meals during the summer and you can help.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) can help to fill the summer meal gap for low-income children. Faith-based, community and private non-profit organizations can make a difference in the lives of hungry children by serving meals with SFSP, a federally funded program administered by States that reimburses organizations for meals served to children during the summer. Schools, churches, recreation centers, playgrounds, parks, and camps can serve meals in neighborhoods with high percentages of low-income families. These are safe and familiar locations where children naturally congregate during the summer.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is offering free webinar sessions on the Summer Food Service Program, so you can learn more about the need, the program, and how you can help. The sessions will review the Summer Food Service Program, cover resources and tools available to help you get started, highlight successful programs and outreach practices from around the country, and will conclude with an open question and answer period with USDA FNS staff.

To learn more about the SFSP, please register to participate in an upcoming free webinar session:

Tuesday, 1/24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST - Public Session Thursday, 2/2, 11:00am - 12:00pm EST - Public Session Thursday, 2/23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST - Public Session

Registration

Click here, to learn more about the Summer Food Service Program.

My Plate Posters

"Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables" posters are now available for free and by request to schools and child care centers participating in FNS programs. Anyone can download the poster for free by clicking here.

How to Get Food Help

How To Get Food Help is a low literacy, clear language brochure targeted at consumers who may be new to navigating social services and assistance applications. The brochure clearly explains all FNS programs that consumers apply to directly, and it gives them basic information to identify which programs might be right for them.

Click on How To Get Food Help to order copies for free.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Fuel Up to Play 60 Funding

Fuel Up to Play 60 is school nutrition and physical activity program founded by National Dairy Council and the National Football League, and in partnership with the USDA. Up to $4,000 per year is available to any qualifying K-12 school enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60. The funding is to help schools create and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. Any U.S. school can enroll in the free program and thus be eligible to apply for up to $4,000. Applications are due February 1st. For more information, please visit: Fuel Up to Play 60.

CONFERENCES

Just Food Conference 2012: Eat. Work. Grow the Movement (NY)

Just Food is a non-profit organization that connects communities and local farms with the resources and support they need to make fresh, locally grown food accessible to all New Yorkers. The Just Food Conference 2012: Eat. Work. Grow The Movement will be held on February 24 and 25, 2012. This Conference will feature a series of workshops along with an EXPO and Good Food Jobs Fair. To view the schedule, please visit Just Food.

National Hunger Free Communities Summit (DC)

The Alliance to End Hunger will host its Second Annual National Hunger Free Communities Summit on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C. This is a free event. To register, click here.

National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference (DC)

Registration is open for the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference from February 26-28, 2012 at the Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C. The event is co-sponsored by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and Feeding America, in cooperation with the National CACFP Forum.

Learn more at Anti-Hunger Policy Conference.

CONTACT US

Correction

In the November and December 2010 issues, we stated that there was a rolling deadline for WIC Mini-Grants through Cooking Matters. The deadline was December 31st, with all work to be completed by March 31st. Apologies for any confusion.

Sharing Your Story

Have you had any recent successes in food sourcing at your food pantry that you want to share? What challenges are you facing? Is there anything that you want to learn more about?

We want to hear from you! Email us at nhc@whyhunger.

Follow us!

In This Issue

NEWS

Stories from the National Hunger Hotline

STATE OF AFFAIRS

Are We Addicted to Infant Formula?

RESOURCES

Capacity Building Guides

USDA Updates

My Plate Posters

How to Get Food Help

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Fuel Up to Play 60 Funding

CONFERENCES

Just Food Conference

National Hunger Free Communities

National Anti-Hunger Conference

CONTACT US

Sharing Your Story

Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit - Seattle Area Meeting

2012-01-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit - Seattle Area Meeting

THIS FRIDAY, 10:00am — 1:00pm
Collaborate on hunger solutions for Washington

Description

We are coordinating 4 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.
Location for this Summit:
Edward D. Hansen Conference Center
2000 Hewitt Avenue
Everett, WA 98201-3600
Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). The Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits will involve many important partners, including Rotary First Harvest.
Light lunch will be provided at this event.

Click here to register now for this event (registration is FREE!)

Meet Our Members: Bellingham Food Bank

2012-01-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

Bellingham Food Bank
Bellingham Food Bank began in 1972, the year when several of our state's food banks began the organized fight against hunger. From its humble yet noble beginnings, it has now grown to an outstanding organization that provided 4.4 million pounds of food (1.4 million distributed through local organizations and 3 million directly distributed to hungry families) to its hungry neighbors last year.

In 2007 they opened a brand new facility that now keeps up with a demand that has been increasing significantly since the beginning of the recession.

The many innovative programs that Bellingham Food Bank has taken on makes it a fascinating organization to visit and replicate across the state wherever possible.

Organized sorting areas where volunteers prepare food for distribution.

Hard to believe, but this warehouse floor goes from being covered with stacks of pallets of delivered food and then sorted and cleaned within a matter of a couple hours.

These nearly indestructible bins are excellent for collecting and storing donated food.

Committed volunteers are essential to keep Bellingham Food Bank running. This is their schedule in the Volunteer Break Room.

One of the local agencies that Bellingham Food Bank supplies with food is Ferndale Food Bank. Six years ago they were able to build a small but incredibly efficient building to run their distribution from. They see 500 families a month on average. They serve these families with incredible joy, and are excited to also serve hungry kids by starting a summer meals program this year. They are also proud of their shopping method, which strives to maintain ultimate client dignity to those they serve.

They do admit, however, that they wish they had a better supply of cooking oil and protein, as those items fly off of the shelf as soon as they are in. The decrease in families receiving food stamps also creates greater stress on their services.

Front desk where clients check in at the Ferndale Food Bank.

Ferndale Food Bank is proud of how they allow clients to choose their own food by utilizing the shopping method, complete with shopping carts!

Baby food supplied by the local Kiwanis Club.

This empty freezer shows the efficiency of the Ferndale Food Bank to get food distributed quickly, but it also shows how close they are to being out of food after a distribution.

Suzanne Nevan, the Director of the Ferndale Food Bank, with Mike Cohen, the Executive Director of the Bellingham Food Bank.

Clients wait outside the Ferndale Food Bank often in the cold. Recently, they were able to add this overhead heater to try to make it more comfortable. Often times, clients can wait 20 minutes to an hour and a half to receive food at Washington food banks due to increased demand.

More About Bellingham Food Bank from their website:

Bellingham Food Bank is Whatcom County's largest emergency food provider. Their mission is to reduce hunger in Bellingham by providing wholesome foods to those in need. They meet this mission by supplying groceries to tens of thousands of hungry Bellingham families every year.

This food bank is available to anyone living in Bellingham. They operate with a small staff and more than 200 volunteers who serve their neighbors with dignity and without judgment. Single individuals and families can visit once a week for as long as they need assistance, and folks typically leave the food bank with 50-70 pounds of nutritious food.

In addition to feeding Bellingham's hungry families, they serve as the main warehouse and distribution center for all Whatcom County food banks. They also coordinate the Food Bank Farm, Small Potatoes Gleaning Project and the Garden Project. To learn more about Bellingham Food Bank's programs, please click on the links below.

Resource: HandsOn Tech Corps Seattle

2012-01-12T15:58:00.001-08:00

Home

The HandsOn Tech Corps is a national program sponsored by Google, the HandsOn Network, and the Points of Light Foundation. HOTC focuses on increasing the nonprofit sector's effective use of technology to increase community resources and improve outcomes for low-income communities and families in 7 cities. 24 AmeriCorps*VISTA members make up the HandsOn Tech Corps and are working full-time for one year. HOTC started in September with a one-week training at Google headquarters in California, where we learned about nonprofit tools and cloud-based offerings from Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Salesforce.com and LinkedIn. Throughout the rest of the year, we will be developing introductory seminars and in-person trainings for smaller nonprofits that are working to lift people out of poverty.

HandsOn Tech Corps Seattle is hosted at NPower Northwest in the Central District neighborhood for the 2011-2012 service year.

We provide free technology trainings to community members and nonprofit staff and will soon be starting a program to offer free consulting serivces to qualifying Seattle organizations.

Check out our calendar, overview, and get involved sections to learn more about the program and to connect with low-cost computing resources!

'No Denying It' - Report From Washington State Budget & Policy Center

2012-01-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

No denying it: At least $10 billion has been cut from the state budget

PDF of this report

by Kim Justice and Andy Nicholas

Introduction

State budget cuts have taken an enormous toll on Washington state’s core public health, education, and community safety structures. Basic public services have been cut by at least $10 billion since the start of the Great Recession. These budget cuts have taken a grizzly toll on the health and well-being of workers and families from Aberdeen to Spokane.
Yet, some have suggested that the impact of budget cuts has been greatly exaggerated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s why:

The human toll of budget cuts is undeniable: Over 70,000 low-income working adults have lost health care coverage, over 20,000 children and families have lost assistance to get and keep a job, and the cost to attend college has almost doubled since 2007 at four-year institutions due to increases in tuition.
Claims about higher state revenues fall apart when placed in context: In real terms (after adjustment for inflation) state revenues are currently about $2 billion (12.6 percent) below pre-recession levels.
Resources are low, but the need for public services is high: In addition to normal cost pressures such as inflation and population growth, the impact of the Great Recession has led more families to seek assistance to meet their basic needs.
In reality, public structures have weathered more than $10 billion in budget cuts: Round after round of cuts from an ever-decreasing baseline has hidden the true magnitude of the cuts enacted since the start of the recession.

The human toll of budget cuts is undeniable

Those who argue that budget cuts have been exaggerated ignore the very real impact that these cuts have had on communities throughout our state:

The number of kids in K-12 increased by 12,135 between 2008 and 2010, but the number of teachers in classrooms shrunk by nearly 3,000.
Over 20,000 eligible students were unable to receive financial aid in 2010 due to insufficient state resources.
The average cost to attend college has risen 94 percent for students and families since 2007 at four-year institutions due to dramatic increases in tuition. The cost has risen 54 percent at community and technical colleges.
Over 70,000 low-income working adults have lost health care coverage since 2009, through the Basic Health Plan.
Over 20,000 adults and children have lost assistance needed for families to get and keep a job.
Approximately 7,000 low-income working parents have lost crucial child care support, which helps them remain in the workforce.
Over 50,000 low income seniors have lost support to help them afford their prescription drugs.
Roughly 20,000 individuals who cannot work due to a disability have seen their income support vanish.

For more detailed information on these cuts and others, view the Budget & Policy Center briefs, “Economic Security: Key to Recovery” and “Declining Support for Education Threatens Economic Growth.”(1)
Every area of state investment has been affected by cuts (Figure 1). The majority of cuts have fallen on our education and health care systems. Cuts to education have reduced the quality of our children’s education and the ability of workers to obtain the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. Health care cuts have left thousands of Washingtonians without medical care.

In reality, public structures have weathered more than $10 billion in budget cuts

Some have argued the budget cuts reported to date are mere accounting tricks – that actual service reductions have been much lower. In fact, the opposite is true. Budget cuts are significantly undercounted in our state budget process. That’s because every year that reductions are made, the current service baseline, or “maintenance level,” is reduced (see Box 1). The maintenance level has been diminished with multiple rounds of budget reductions. And, cutting from an ever-shrinking baseline masks the true magnitude of the cuts enacted so far. The bottom line, as shown in Figure 2, is that at least $10 billion in budget cuts have been enacted since the start of the recession.

Box 1: The maintenance budget

The maintenance level refers to the cost of maintaining the same level of services from one fiscal year to the next, accounting for factors such as general price inflation, increases in the population, and increases in the number of people qualifying for support.
The maintenance level is recalculated each year to account for changes in state law enacted the previous year and for increases or decreases in caseloads. Because it is recalculated annually, it is unknown how much it would cost to provide pre-recession levels of services in the current year.

Claims about higher state revenues fall apart when placed in context

State tax revenues are far below pre-recession levels. Before adjustment for inflation, Figure 3 shows that by 2010, the deepest part of the recession, state revenues had fallen to $1.9 billion (12.3 percent) below 2007 levels. Revenues are presently $820 million (5.3 percent) below the pre-recession mark, and aren’t projected to approach 2007 levels until 2013.

The decline in state revenues is even more dramatic once elements of inflation, such as rising energy prices – which make it more expensive for the state to fuel police cars and heat classrooms – are taken into account. In real terms (after adjustment for inflation) state revenues are currently about $2 billion (12.6 percent) below pre-recession levels, and aren’t projected to recover within the foreseeable future, based on estimates from the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

Resources are low, but the need for public services is high

The cost of providing consistent levels of services rises each year due to inflation, demographic changes such as the aging of our state population, and other factors. In addition to these ordinary cost pressures, the Great Recession – and the mass layoffs that have come with it – has greatly increased the need for state-supported health care, educational opportunities, and other essential services among Washingtonians.
A good example is Washington’s Apple Health for Kids program, which has proven to be a crucial backstop for families throughout the recession. Figure 4 shows that while thousands of children in Washington have lost their parents’ employer-provided health coverage since the start of the recession, Apple Health and other public insurance programs have helped to fill the gap. As the graph shows, about 165,000 children in Washington lost employer-sponsored insurance from 2006-07 through 2009-10. During the same period, the number of children enrolled in state-supported health programs grew by about 208,000.(2) Accordingly, the costs of maintaining Apple Health have risen significantly in the last few years.

Conclusion

Over the next few months, state lawmakers will make pivotal decisions about the future of our state as they work to address a $2 billion shortfall. It is important for all of us to know where we’ve been before we can make decisions about where we’re going next.
In just three years, there have been more than $10 billion in cuts impacting working families, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and students. Another all cuts budget would be indefensible. Therefore, it is vital that new revenue be included as part of a balanced solution to our economic problems.
In the short run, we can raise additional resources to preserve our essential health and education structures by ending unjustified tax breaks and modestly increasing the sales tax.(3) An increase in the sales tax should be paired with the Working Families Tax Rebate to significantly reduce costs for lower-income working families with children.
In the long run, a small excise tax on some capital gains would go a long way toward improving the adequacy and equity of our flawed revenue system.(4)
There will be disagreements about the revenue package – where it should come from, how much it would raise, and who would pay. That is to be expected. But we should not diminish the magnitude of cuts to state investments enacted since the start of the recession. Thousands of Washingtonians have lost health care and opportunities to build a better future. Ignoring this fact clouds our ability to make sensible choices about public priorities going forward.

Acknowledgments

The Budget & Policy Center gratefully acknowledges the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Campion Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, Stoneman Family Foundation, and The Seattle Foundation. The findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of the author alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of these organizations.

Endnotes

For more information see “Economic Security: Key to Recovery,” located on-line at http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/economic-security-key-to-recovery-and-properity and “Declining Support for Education Threatens Economic Growth,” located on-line at http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/declining-support-for-education-threatens-economic-growth.
To improve statistical precision, the data were split in to two periods, each consisting of two years of data – i.e. 2006-07 and 2009-10.
For more details see the schumdget post “Five advantages of increasing the sales tax,” located on-line at http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/five-advantages-of-raising-the-sales-tax.
For more information see “A Capital Reform: Using Capital Gains to Fuel Job Creation and Economic Prosperity in Washington state,” located on-line at http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/a-capital-reform-using-capital-gains-to-fuel-job-creation-and-economic-prosperity-in-washington-state.

BRAND NEW Membership Map

2012-01-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

Check out this fantastic interactive map of the current Washington Food Coalition membership:

View Washington Food Coalition Statewide Membership in a full screen map

Teen Feed hit the road!

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

Teen Feed will be hitting the road!

We are excited to share Teen Feed's Community Driven Campaign raised over $8,000 to purchase a vehicle for Teen Feed!

We are grateful for this incredible support from the community. Teen Feed's new van will help bring the Teen Feed meal to youth who need it in new neighborhoods in and around King County. For a list of Community Driven Campaign contributors who made a Teen Feed outreach van possible, please click here.

The new year ushers in Teen Feed's 25th Anniversary and new opportunities for Teen Feed programs and youth in the streets. Teen Feed is excited to embark on a plan to provide stability for more youth in need in the Seattle area. We look forward to celebrating Teen Feed's past and the growing network of consistency and care in the year to come.

You make it possible for Teen Feed to help youth on the street find their futures. We are inspired by your continued partnership.

With Gratitude,

Teen Feed

Should you have any questions regarding the Community Driven Campaign, please reach Suzanne Sullivan at suzanne@teenfeed.org

Still want to contribute? It's not too late!

We are still accepting donations to cover outreach van expenses, including insurance, maintenance fees and fuel costs. By taking Teen Feed on the road, you support our efforts to bring the Teen Feed meal to youth in other neighborhoods in King County.

All gifts made to the Community Driven Campaign will be celebrated with the following :

All donors will receive recognition on
the Teen Feed website and a token of our appreciation
Gifts of $500 or more will have their Name prominently featured on the Teen Feed vehicle
Gifts of $250 or more will have their name featured on the Teen Feed vehicle

Help us support a Teen Feed outreach van and steer youth towards their futures off the streets. To contribute today, click here. To learn more, please reach Suzanne Sullivan at suzanne@teenfeed.org or 206-446-1075.

Register for Hunger Action Day Now!

2012-01-04T09:36:00.001-08:00

Hunger Action Day 2012 is right around the corner: Friday, February 3^rd in Olympia!

We will begin the morning at United Churches (110 11th Ave SE, Olympia) and continue the day on the Capitol campus meeting with legislators.

Registration is OPEN!

We encourage you to register now so that we can do our best to schedule a meeting for you with your legislators. It’s our goal to have as many people registered for Hunger Action Day as possible when session begins on Jan. 9.

Spread the Word:

A flyer for Hunger Action Day 2012 is below - please share this with your networks. We are asking you to help by bringing your friends, family and co-workers - tell them to mark their calendars for February 3^rd and register!

If you work for an organization dealing with hunger or poverty-related issues, please bring as many clients, customers, staff, volunteers and board members that you can to talk to legislators. The success of our efforts in Olympia relies on your voice and the voices of those you serve being heard by decision-makers.

Staying Overnight in Olympia:

For those of you traveling across the state to Hunger Action Day, we have secured a block of rooms in Olympia at the Governor's Hotel for February 1st and 2nd for $86/per night. (This is especially convenient for anyone also planning to attend the Washington Food Coalition’s Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit on February 2^nd.)

To reserve a room, please contact the hotel directly. The block of hotel rooms are held under the Washington Food Coalition. You must make your reservation by January 11, 2012 to secure the reduced rate.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact AHNC at ahnc@wsahnc.org

Poverty USA: A very graphic representation of the poverty situation in America today

2012-01-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

POSTION OPEN: Immanuel Community Services Food Bank Coordinator

2012-01-03T18:10:00.001-08:00

POSTIONOPEN: ImmanuelCommunity Services Food Bank Coordinator

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Food Bank Coordinator, incooperation with the other Program Coordinators and under the supervision ofthe Executive Director, is responsible for the efficient operation of theImmanuel Community Services (ICS) Food Bank Program.

SCOPE OF DUTIES

1. Food Pick-ups:Pick up or arrange for pick up of food items from various suppliers fordistribution by ICS, using the ICS 16-foot van, or other transportation.

2. Food Storage: Receive, sort, and evaluate all foodand other donations and store them in a safe, orderly, hygienic manner in theappropriate section of the Pantry (dry, refrigerated, or frozen), to includeassuring that both the Pantry and Parish Hall are maintained according topublic health standards as regards FB operations.

3. Food Distribution: Schedule and coordinatefood distribution through regular FB operations (currently 9:00 to 11:00 AM,the last two Fridays of each month) and through special distributions to otherICS Programs (Hygiene, Community Lunch, and Recovery) as may be approved, andgather and maintain statistical data on the clients served.

4. Volunteers:Recruit, train, supervise, and thank volunteers in their various functions inFB operations.

5. Reports: Gatherand organize the data necessary tofulfill reporting requirements of the various FB contributors--- to includeFood Lifeline monthly activity reports, Northwest Harvest monthly statisticalreport, EFAP monthly report--- a brief narrative report for the monthlyImmanuel Lutheran newsletter, and such other reports as the ED may periodicallyrequire.

6. Meetings. Represent ICS at FB-related meetings(Seattle Food Committee (SFC), the second Monday of each month, and FoodResources Network Federation (FRNF), called quarterly), at community-relationsfunctions, and weekly ILC Staff meetings as directed by the ED.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. GoodCommunication skills, both written and verbal. Must have a compassionate personality that welcomesvolunteers and clients from diverse backgrounds and nurtures their involvementwith the Food Bank.

2. Driver’s licenseand good driving record.

3. Ability to lift50 lbs. repetitively.

4. Administrativeskills – knowledge of word and excel in order to complete reports in anaccurate and timely fashion.

5. Ability to reachout to a diverse community and develop new partnerships and relationships inthe community.

Thisis a part-time 15 hour a week position with a choice of benefits. Food pick-ups and Food Bank schedulerequires that some hours are fixed, others are flexible. Benefits available. Position open until filled.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for thisposition, please send a resume and cover letter describing your qualificationsfor and interest

in the positionto: Patty Turnberg, Ex. Dir., ICS,1215 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA 98109 or send an email

to icsdirector@immanuelseattle.org. No phone calls please.

From Northwest Harvest: Advocacy Alert

2011-12-21T14:18:00.001-08:00

Advocates Update

Wednesday, December 21

IN THIS ISSUE

Working Connections

ACT NOW!

SAVE THE DATES:

Jan. 4 and 7, 2012:

TOWN HALLS
Jan. 4, 5:30-8pm:
48th District Legislators at Bellevue City Hall,
450 110th Ave NE.
Jan. 7, 10am-12pm:
49th District Legislators at Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver.

Jan. 16, 2012:

POVERTY ACTION DAY

Sponsored by Statewide Poverty Action Network. Event and sign-up information at:

povertyaction.org

Feb. 3, 2012:

HUNGER ACTION DAY

Join us in Olympia to advocate for hunger relief!

REGISTER HERE

More information at: wsahnc.org

Your Weekly Action Alert:
Working Connections

Funding for state-subsidized childcare for low-income, working families is in danger of dramatic cuts. To protect this program, families need to know that this subsidy is available and get connected with the agencies that can sign them up. LEARN MORE...

ACT NOW!

Help save Working Connections by getting the word out to eligible families that there is no waitlist for this program that can help them provide safe, affordable care for children while parents go to work.

We all know that families that rely on hunger relief programs to put food on their tables have tremendously constrained household budgets. Childcare is an expense that working parents cannot forgo. If families receive subsidies from Working Connections, then parents can work, earning money to help pay for food and other basic needs, with the peace of mind that their children are safe and cared for.

Please help get the word out about this important program so that eligible families can connect with agencies that can sign them up for this service. Please print out and post the attached flyer in community spaces such as public libraries, community center bulletin boards, and food banks. Help connect families to this important program and help make a difference.

View/Print Working Connections Flyer

The Latest from Harvest Against Hunger

2011-12-20T23:29:00.001-08:00

The Latest from Harvest Against Hunger

Our cumulative second year project results are tallied. Simply put, our Harvest VISTA team rocked from 2010 to 2011.
Most of the new HAH AmeriCorps*VISTA team was placed just before Thanksgiving for the third project year. They're already off and doing amazing work.

We have three more HAH Area Summits planned for Yakima, Olympia and Everett. See details below for more info.

2010-11 Project Results

HAH's results from November 2010 to October 2011 were remarkable. This Harvest VISTA team galvanized community and grower support while mobilizing thousands of volunteers.

2,800 volunteers recruited

2,100 volunteers who served

20,000 hours of community service

105 new agriculture donors

300 food recovery events

400,000 pounds of produce collected

$4,700 cash donations

$235,000 non-cash resources developed

2011-12 Project Host Sites

There are currently nine Harvest VISTA working around Washington, and we're pleased to announce partnerships with four new organizations:

Hopelink Sno-Valley in Carnation
Clark County Food Bank in Vancouver
Community Farm Connection in Wenathcee
Blue Mountan Action Council in Walla Walla

Visit the HAH page to see host sites and bios of our entire Harvest VISTA team.

Events and News

HAH Area Summit

In partnership with the WA Department of Agriculture and WA Food Coalition, RFH is hosting three more Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits to bring hunger relief efforts closer to local fruit and vegetable farmers. Visit the WA Food Coalition page to register for the free summit nearest you:

Yakima - January 6

Seattle/Everett - January 20

Olympia - February 2

RFH Resource Guide

An electronic resource guide of best practices will be available to the public in early 2012. It is similar to the first "Gleaners Resource Guide," but will be much more interactive and hosted online.

Facebook

Finally, we're no longer updating the HAH Facebook Page. "Like" Rotary First Harvest to stay up to the latest HAH news.

HAH Video Highlights

Watch short videos about different HAH project success from 2011-12.

South King County Food Coalition Cannery
Pierce County Gleaning Project
P-Patch Gardens in Seattle

About Us

Rotary First Harvest - a program of Rotary District 5030, was founded in 1982 as a project of the University District Rotary Club. Since then, RFH has collected and distributed over 160 million pounds of healthy produce to hunger programs across Washington State and throughout the US. We rely on support from individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to continue our work.

Rotary First Harvest

PO Box 94117

Seattle, Washington 98124

206.236.0408

From Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition: Register for Hunger Action Day 2012 TODAY!

2011-12-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

Advocates and community members:

HungerAction Day 2012 is right around the corner: Friday,February 3^rd inOlympia!

Wewill begin the morning at United Churches (110 11th Ave SE, Olympia) andcontinue the day on the Capitol campus meeting with legislators.

Registrationis OPEN!

Weencourage you to register now so that we can do our best toschedule a meeting for you with your legislators. It’s our goal to have as manypeople registered for Hunger Action Day as possible when session begins on Jan. 9.

Spreadthe Word:

Aflyer for Hunger Action Day 2012 is attached - please share this with yournetworks. We are asking you to help by bringing your friends, family andco-workers - tellthem to mark their calendars for February 3^rd and register!

Ifyou work for an organization dealing with hunger or poverty-related issues,please bring as many clients, customers, staff, volunteers and board membersthat you can to talk to legislators. The success of our efforts in Olympiarelies on your voice and the voices of those you serve being heard bydecision-makers.

Staying Overnight in Olympia:

For those of you traveling acrossthe state to Hunger Action Day, we have secured a block of rooms in Olympia atthe Governor's Hotel for February 1st and 2nd for $86/per night. (This isespecially convenient for anyone also planning to attend the Washington FoodCoalition’s HarvestAgainst Hunger Area Summit on February 2^nd.)

Toreserve a room, please contact the hotel directly. Theblock of hotel rooms are held under the Washington Food Coalition. You must make yourreservation by January 11, 2012 to secure thereduced rate.

Ifyou have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at ahnc@wsahnc.org

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Knowing Hunger in Washington

2011-12-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

*this is an excerpt from our recent Winter Newsletter. You can view the entire newsletter online by clicking here.

Hunger in our state is at levels that continue to putstrain on the emergency food system. Knowing thisis important, but sharing the facts of hunger withothers in your community can make an even greaterimpact.
Here is some information and trends about hungerin Washington that we encourage you to sharewith donors, elected officials, and others in yourcommunity:
· Since the beginning of the current recession, the number
of Washington families struggling with hunger has almost
2011, the number of households experiencing hunger rose nearly 100% to more than 160,000households. This is 6.1% of total households in Washington. Washington’s rate of hunger is 11thhighest in the nation.
· The percent of Washington households reporting very low food security, where food intake wasactually reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted, increased from 3.6% in 2005-2007 to5.8% in 2007-2009, the highest rate in more than a decade.
· As many as 400,000 children in Washington – or 25% – live in food insecure households.
· In the fall of 2012, multiple food banks reported an all-time high record number of clients. Theemergency food network distributed over 130 million pounds of food statewide in 2010.
· The number of visits to food banks (visits = the first time someone uses the foodbank plus any subsequent visits) went from 7.80 million in FY10 to 7.98 millionin FY11, a significant increase. There were nearly 2 million visits (new + returningclients) to food banks statewide in just the Fall of 2012, an increase of more than59,000 when compared to the same quarter last year. This increase in usage has
put the emergency food system under a great deal of stress.
· In the past year, emergency food providers reported over 16 million fewer poundsof food was donated compared to the previous year. That equates to a loss of over$24 million worth of donated food coming into the food bank system. It is clear thatdonations are down, visits are up and their need for additional food and money is
urgent.
· Households with significantly higher rates of food insecurity include: lowerincome households, single men, African American and Hispanic households, and
households with children headed by a single woman.
· About 985,000 individuals per month in Washington received food assistance
through the Basic Food Program in 2010. This was a 20.6% increase from the yearbefore. In terms of dollars distributed, Basic Food issuance (from both federal and state funds)in 2010 totaled over $1.5 billion.
· The National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and the Summer Feeding Programsserved over one million adults and children in Washington.
· The Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, (which includes the WICFarmers Market Nutrition Program) served over 315,000 state residents in 2010.

Advocacy 101: Your Guide to Understanding Government, Budgets, & What’s Ahead

2011-12-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

*this is an excerpt from our recent Winter Newsletter. You can view the entire newsletter online by clicking here.

Washington State Government
The Washington State Legislature is a bicameral body (meaning it has two legislative bodies, notone) with 49 members in the Senate and 98 members in the House of Representatives. Thereare 49 legislative districts and each district is served by one Senator and two House members.
The citizen Legislature meets annually on the second Monday in January in the ornate Capitolbuilding in Olympia. In odd-numbered years (2011) -- the budget year -- the Legislature meetsfor 105 days, and in even-numbered years (2012) -- the policy year -- for 60 days. If necessary,the Governor can call legislators in for a special session for a 30-day period. Legislators can callthemselves into special session with a two-thirds vote of the two bodies. In the odd-numberedyears, or “long sessions”, the Legislature sets a two-year budget (a biennial budget); the following,even-numbered years are used to adjust that budget according to need. This process results in a‘supplemental budget’ as it supplements information in the first budget.
Special Session 2011:
Due to a continued budget crisis that produced an anticipated $2 billion shortfall, the Governorcalled the Legislature back this year for a special session. This session began on November 28th,so it can technically last until December 27th, but it is expected to be over early. The purpose isto adopt a supplemental budget to meet the revenue shortfall. The Governor has proposed herbudget, and it is now the Legislature’s job to develop and adopt a final one. Given the large taskand short time to accomplish it, it’s expected that the Legislature will complete not it in the spe-cial session. This will leave this work to be done during the 2012 session that begins January 9th.
Budget Proposal From the Governor:
There are several budget items that directly link to anti-hunger efforts in Washington:• Support state food banks - $1.5 million
Increases funding for state food banks that serve 1.5 million clients annually. Fundingwill provide 4.4 million meals annually.
• Eliminate State Food Assistance program - $13.9 million
Halts food assistance to an estimated 11,400 individuals each month who are not eligiblefor federal food assistance under federal law. This includes green card holders who havelived here for five years, witnesses in domestic violence and human traficking cases,and indviduals who live here under special agreements between the U.S. and theircountries of origin to work and/or receive medical treatment because of harm that U.S.actions in their home countries.
• Eliminate Farmers Market Nutrition Programs for WIC and Seniors - $100,000
Ends state and federal funding for program that benefits low income mothers, youngchildren and seniors, as well as local farm jobs.

Federal Government

The Budget Process:

Each year, Congress must go through a budget and appropriations process, determining thefunding for federal programs, agencies, and departments. Federal fiscal years start on October 1,so a budget must be passed by September 30 each year. If Congress fails to pass a budget by thattime, they can pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avoid a government shut down while budgettalks continue.
The 2011 Federal Deficit:
Our country faces a huge deficit. This past summer, Congress debated whether we should raiseour debt ceiling, the maximum amount that the U.S. is allowed to borrow money from othercountries to help pay for our budget’s spending, or else risk defaulting on these loans. Default-ing on our loans would have dramatically worstened the on-going worldwide economic process.Congress was split along party lines over raising the debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling crisis was resolved in August with a proposal to appoint a bipartisan committeemade up of members of both the House and the Senate, to propose ways to lower our country’sdeficit. This was the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or “the Super Committee” thatwas co-chaired by Sen. Patty Murray. The committee was charged with finding $1.3 trillion indeficit reducing options that would take place over a 10 year period. Unfortunately, the committeewas split along party lines and could not come to agreement on a proposal.
Under the debt ceiling agreement that created the Super Committee, there will now be automaticdeep cuts to military and domestic spending, although entitlement programs like Social Security,Medicare, and SNAP are left harmless from cuts. The cuts will start in 2013, and Congress has this upcoming year to determine what cuts will be made.

WFC Winter Newsletter Available Online

2011-12-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Click below to check out our Winter Newsletter

Open publication - Free publishing - More coalition

Bio for WFC 2012 Conference Keynote Speaker, Jim Weill

2011-12-14T12:13:00.001-08:00

JAMESD. WEILL

President

FoodResearch and Action Center

Jim Weill has beenPresident of the Food Research and Action Center – FRAC – since February1998. FRAC is the leadinganti-hunger public policy group in America, using research, lobbying, coalition-buildingand public education to combat hunger.

FRAC leads nationalefforts to improve and expand the reach of programs like the SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school lunch and breakfast, afterschooland summer food, child care food and the “WIC” (Women, Infants and Children)Program. FRAC focuses as well on strategies to improve the incomes oflow-income families and to boost healthy eating in schools, afterschool andsummer programs, child care, and low-income neighborhoods. Since 1994 FRAC hasled the Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, the preeminent national, state andlocal effort to use federal nutrition programs to meet children’s needs. CongressDaily has described FRAC as “the premier anti-hunger group in Washington.”

Jim has devoted hisentire professional career to reducing hunger and poverty, protecting the legalrights of children and poor people, and expanding economic security, income andnutrition support programs and health insurance coverage for low-income people.

Prior to joining FRAC,he was at the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) as Program Director and GeneralCounsel. He led CDF’s efforts in1985 that produced the first major expansion of the Earned Income Tax Creditand oversaw CDF’s health coverage expansion, child care, and child supportenforcement reform efforts.

Before CDF, Jim wasDeputy Director and Director of Federal Litigation at the Legal AssistanceFoundation of Chicago. Helitigated major law reform and class action cases in the federal court ofappeals and Supreme Court on Social Security, Medicaid, AFDC, food stamps andother public benefits issues, and the rights of children born out of wedlock.

Jim is chair of theboard of directors of the Alliance for Justice Action Council and is a memberof the boards of OMB Watch and the National Center for Youth Law. He serves on the advisory council tothe National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families. He hasserved as a member of the U.S. delegation to the UNICEF Executive Board and onthe boards of the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services, the Illinois CivilLiberties Union and the Poverty and Race Research and Action Council.

From FRAC: Weekly News Digest

2011-12-12T12:12:00.001-08:00

follow us:

The Weekly Food Research and Action Center News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them. Previous editions of the Digest are available on FRAC’s website.

Issue #41, December 5, 2011

Report Finds Spending on Food by Tens of Millions of Americans Drops to Unhealthy Level
SNAP/Food Stamps Reaching 15 Percent of U.S. Population

Idaho Sees SNAP/Food Stamp Numbers Rise Along with Unemployment

Pediatric Clinic in Rhode Island Steers Patients to SNAP/Food Stamps and WIC

SNAP/Food Stamp Challenges Continue in North Carolina

Hawaii Improves SNAP/Food Stamp Application Process, Reducing Wait Time for Benefits

Syracuse, New York Schools Receive Grant to Increase Breakfast Participation

Improving New Jersey’s School Breakfast Participation Would Help Schools Financially

Recession Forces Some Homeless Families in Florida to Live in Cars

Report Forecasts Bleak Economic Picture for States

Vote for FRAC through the Working Assets/CREDO Donation Pool
Working Assets/CREDO has designated FRAC as one of only eight U.S. nonprofits eligible in 2011 for contributions through its Economic and Social Justice donation pool. CREDO members can vote for FRAC at credomobile.com/vote.

1. Report Finds Spending on Food by Tens of Millions of Americans Drops to Unhealthy Level
(FRAC, December 8, 2011)

In A Tightening Squeeze: The Declining Expenditures on Food by American Households (pdf), FRAC analyzed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) annual reports that compare the amount of households’ median spending on food to the amount of the Thrifty Food Plan – the level the government defines as needed for a bare bones diet on an emergency basis, albeit a level that many experts consider to be inadequate for most families to obtain a healthy diet. The FRAC analysis found that:

Spending on food by the median household fell from 1.36 times the Thrifty Food Plan level in 2000 to 1.19 times that level in 2010.

By 2010 median spending on food by Black households and Hispanic households had fallen to the point where it was only a tiny bit above (101 percent for Black households) or was actually below (96 percent for Hispanic households) the bare bones Thrifty level.

Spending by households with incomes less than 185 percent of the poverty level fell from 106 percent of the thrifty level in 2000 to 95 percent in 2010.

“In short, tens of millions of households are failing to attain an adequate standard for food purchasing,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “When families don’t have enough resources to purchase an adequate diet, it leads to increased hunger and damages health, mental health, family cohesion, early child development, learning, and productivity at work. Today’s inability to afford enough food will lead to widespread harm to the nation’s children and adults, its schools and its workplaces, and its economy unless this trend is reversed.”

2. SNAP/Food Stamps Reaching 15 Percent of U.S. Population
(The Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2011; FRAC, December 6, 2011)

In September, SNAP/Food Stamp participation reached nearly 46.3 million recipients, or 15 percent of the population. Eleven states* received disaster SNAP/Food Stamp assistance tied to Hurricane Irene, which raised the SNAP/Food Stamp participation numbers. However, a number of states not receiving disaster aid had 10 percent increases in participation over the past year; one in five residents in New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee and Louisiana were receiving SNAP/Food Stamps; and Mississippi had the largest share of population receiving the benefit - more than 21 percent.
*Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

3. Idaho Sees SNAP/Food Stamp Numbers Rise Along with Unemployment
(NBC Rock Center, November 28, 2011)

Idaho SNAP/Food Stamp families are showing up at midnight at Walmarts in order to restock their kitchens, which are almost empty at the end of each month. “Two years ago, we were at just 2 percent unemployment,” said Kathy Gardner, director of Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force. “Our food stamp participation rate was one of the lowest in the nation…because only 55 percent, a little over half of the Idahoans that were eligible and needed food stamps were participating.” As unemployment shot up to 9.1 percent, SNAP/Food Stamp participation increased 15 percent. Professionals without jobs and struggling financially have joined the chronically poor as SNAP/Food Stamp recipients. “We know that Idahoans are in a desperate situation. They are watering down baby formula. Parents are cutting back on what they’re eating so that their children can have food,” said Gardner. “We know that families are getting up in the middle of the night to get to the store.” Walmarts are adding extra staff to handle the extra shoppers. “We…make sure all of our registers…are open,” said Carol Johnston, Walmart’s senior vice president of store development. “Some people may think that at 12:01, Walmart’s very quiet, but in a lot of areas of the country, 12:01 is a big day or a big night for us, actually.”

4. Pediatric Clinic in Rhode Island Steers Patients to SNAP/Food Stamps and WIC
(Gant Daily, November 22, 2011)

The pediatric clinic at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been directing hungry families to the SNAP/Food Stamp and WIC Programs, spurred by data released in September by medical center officials showing household food insecurity among young children at the hospital increased to 41 percent in 2010, from 29 percent in 2009. Children without adequate nutrition for a prolonged time could develop iron-deficiency anemia or experience developmental delays, noted Children’s HealthWatch, and children in food insecure households are more likely to be in fair or poor health.

5. SNAP/Food Stamp Challenges Continue in North Carolina
(Appalachian Online, November 29, 2011)

About 30 Appalachian State University students in North Carolina participated in the SNAP/Food Stamp Challenge, living off $21 for a week’s worth of groceries - $4.50 a day - which approximates the SNAP/Food Stamp weekly benefit amount. “My hope is that through taking the challenge, even just taking the week out of your life, that we would look upon people with compassion and without judgment and connect with them on a more human level,” said senior Caroline Graebe. “I went to make food and I realized I didn’t have any more money left on my $4.50 and I was extremely disturbed by it.” Georgia Bowen, a senior student with a family of four who receives SNAP/Food Stamps, sometimes eats only one meal a day so that there’s more food for her children. “To see students willing to try and put themselves in other people’s shoes and to have that bit of empathy is amazing,” said Bowen. “It’s beautiful and it’s inspiring to us that people do care.”

6. Hawaii Improves SNAP/Food Stamp Application Process, Reducing Wait Time for Benefits
(Maui Now, December 6, 2011)

Hawaii’s Department of Human Services saw its SNAP/Food Stamp caseload increase 11 percent over the past year, but reduced staffing, a hiring freeze and reduction in force initiatives over the past few years caused a backlog of applications. DHS recently launched the Business Processing Re-Engineering Project (BPRP) on Maui in order to reduce the backlog and get SNAP/Food Stamp benefits to applicants quicker. Instead of one caseworker handling an entire application, SNAP/Food Stamp applications are now handled by several workers assigned to stages in the process – Intake, Interviewing, Pending, Processing and Maintenance. Since BPRP’s launch in November, Maui’s DHS office reports that 78 percent of SNAP/Food Stamp, cash and Medicaid applications are being processed on a “same-day” basis. “The application process is much quicker under the new system,” said Maui eligibility worker Aranda Kahaialii, in a written statement. “If applicants have all their required paperwork in order at the Income Maintenance Office, they should be able to complete the application the same day they apply.”

7. Syracuse, New York Schools Receive Grant to Increase Breakfast Participation
(Syracuse.com, November 30, 2011)

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) recently awarded the Syracuse, New York school district a grant of $400,000 (funds provided by the Walmart Foundation) to increase school breakfast participation, part of AASA’s national campaign to get more students eating free breakfast. While the school district has offered free breakfast to all students for 16 years, the grant will enable high school students to receive grab-and-go breakfast bags instead of eating in the cafeteria, and elementary school students will be able to eat breakfast in the classroom. Grab-and-go breakfast and breakfast in the classroom, noted Cindy Bonura Sturgeon, the district’s director of food and nutritional services, are national models shown to improve school breakfast participation. The district has a high poverty rate, with 75 percent of students eligible for free school lunch and seven percent eligible for reduced-price lunch. Three additional school districts are receiving grants (Riverside, California, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Brentwood, New York) out of the 16 districts invited to submit applications.

8. Improving New Jersey’s School Breakfast Participation Would Help Schools Financially
(Edison Sentinel, December 7, 2011)

Advocates for Children of New Jersey's "Food for Thought School Breakfast Campaign" found that only 1 percent (16 students) of Middlesex County's 2,299 students eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast actually received the benefit. Edison Public Schools in New Jersey would receive $687,334 if their school breakfast participation reached 100 percent of eligible students. The district has begun expanding school breakfast to increase participation, offering free breakfast in the classroom to all students receiving free or reduced-price breakfast in Benjamin Franklin and Lindeneau elementary schools. Herbert Hoover and Thomas Jefferson middle schools will join the breakfast expansion in January.

9. Recession Forces Some Homeless Families in Florida to Live in Cars
(CBS News, November 27, 2011)

One-third of America’s homeless families are in Florida, and two-thirds of those families are living on the street. Some of the homeless families in Central Florida are living in their cars, victims of the collapse of the state’s construction industry and the recession’s high unemployment rate. The Metzger family has been living out of their truck for about five months, and Tom Metzger continues to look for carpentry work. Correspondents met 15 students at Casselberry School in Seminole County who had been living in cars. “We were really scared,” said student Marquis Gines. “So…we would stay up all night sometimes and watch over my mom and keep her safe.” The Coates family found the best places to park the car they lived in were some Walmart lots (depending on the manager), near YMCAs, and outside hospital emergency rooms, as those areas provided lighting and security. To keep from being idle, the Metzgers would drive their truck to libraries, where the kids could use computers and study. Education “is everything to us,” said Arielle Metzger. “I plan to be a child defense lawyer. If I focus on my studies, I have that opportunity.” Now that she’s been homeless, she wants to help those other homeless people she used to see before the family lived in their car.

10. Report Forecasts Bleak Economic Picture for States
(The Washington Post, November 29, 2011)

A report released by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) forecasts a bleak fiscal situation for states, although there has been improvement since the worst of the recession. The economic stress of continued high unemployment will force states to spend more while they struggle with weak revenue growth. “[T]here is not enough money for all the bills coming in,” said Scott Pattison, NASBO executive director. “State officials will still be cutting some programs, and increases in funding for any program except for health care will be rare.” While the private sector job market has improved somewhat, 455,000 state and local government jobs have been lost since the start of 2010. Since the 2008 financial crisis, public sector jobs have accounted for the smallest share of employment in the U.S. “Local governments are still seeing declines in their revenues, because even if property values have stabilized, property taxes tend to follow a couple of years behind,” said Dan Crippen, NGA’s executive director.

From AHNC: ACTION ALERTS, Special Session Update, and Hunger Action Day!

2011-12-11T13:43:00.001-08:00

Session Update:

As the second week of the special session comes to a close,all signs are pointing to the special session wrapping up next week without abudget. It is expected that lawmakerswill keep working on the supplemental budget though at least the middle of regularsession which begins Jan. 9.

AHNC lobbyists will continue to meet with legislators on ourlegislative priorities. During special session, we have been educatinglawmakers about the frequent misunderstandings about State Food Assistance andFarmers Market Nutrition Programs for WIC and Seniors. For SFA, there has beenconfusion by lawmakers on eligibility issues for SNAP and SFA as well as thelawsuit from Columbia Legal Services. For more info, check out Children’sAlliance’s “Facts about State Food Assistance” on the AHNC website ( http://www.wsahnc.org/state-food-assistance-fact-sheets-by-ld/).

For the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, there has beenconfusion by some legislators about the difference between the WIC Program and FMNPfor WIC families; additionally, the Governor’s budget document erroneouslystates that federal funds would continue without state funds.

ACTION: Sign your organization on to “ProtectFarmers Market Nutrition Programs for WIC and Seniors ”by contacting EllenGray, WA Sustainable Food & Farming Network (egray@wsffn.org). You can see a list of organizations/agencieswho have already signed on, by clicking here and downloadingthe 2011-12 FMNP 1 pager.

FEDERAL ACTION ALERT

Urge Washington StateCongressional Reps to Sign-on to Letter Protecting SNAP, WIC and OtherNutrition Programs

Now that the Super Committee failed to reach a deficitreduction agreement, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees will attemptto develop a free-standing Farm Bill, rather than wrap it into the SuperCommittee, as had been proposed. Unfortunately, there were recommendationsby Agriculture Committee Chairs Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Frank Lucas(R-OK) in the Super Committee process to cut SNAP significantly, so it iscritically important to demonstrate strong support for SNAP and otheranti-hunger programs as we head into Farm Bill reauthorization.

House leaders Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and JamesMcGovern (D-MA) are currently circulating a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter urging theHouse Agriculture Committee to protect SNAP and other low-income nutritionprograms through reauthorization of the Farm Bill or any “must pass” bills in the closing weeks of this Congress. Click here to see theDear Colleague sign-on letter.

ACTION: Please contact your Congress Member todayto urge them to sign on. CongressionalReps should contact MelindaCep in Congresswoman DeLauro’s office (melinda.cep@mail.house.gov) with questions or to co-sign the letter.

Register for Hunger Action Day 2012!

Make sure to mark yourcalendars for February 3^rd 2012, register to attend, and share thisinformation with your networks to help spread the word! Click here to submit your information and reserve yourspace.

Pleasenote that each person must be registered individually. If you have any questions or need assistance,please contact us at ahnc@wsahnc.org

Next AHNC Membership Meeting

Tuesday, January 10^th,2:30-4:30pm (location TBA)

Please share thisalert with your networks and have a great weekend!

www.wsahnc.org

253-394-2787

ahnc@wsahnc.org

From Food Lifeline: Delivery Time!

2011-12-11T13:39:00.001-08:00

ELIMINATION OF THE STATE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROPOSED. READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS!

Governor Christine Gregoire has released her proposed 2012 state budget which includes eliminating the State Food Assistance Program (SFA). SFA is a food stamp “look-alike” program that provides food benefits to 13,754 lawfully residing immigrants. The SFA Program has proven to be an efficient and economical program, costing 43% less to operate than originally anticipated. The proposed $13.9 million in cuts would end the program, but it won’t solve our budget problem. Cutting funding for the SFA Program would lead to an even greater strain on local food banks and meal programs. Food Lifeline’s member agencies have seen a 9% increase, since Fiscal Year 2010, in unduplicated individuals accessing their local hunger relief organizations. Hunger and food insecurity has risen greatly among our neighbors since the recession began and we cannot place additional pressure on programs and organizations already struggling to keep food on the shelves for the most vulnerable in our community.

Our lawmakers are meeting to discuss the Governor’s budget proposal. At the end of the regular session they will have made incredibly important decisions regarding which programs to cut and which to preserve. While they are engaged in these key conversations it is crucial for us to strongly voice our concerns for a budget that maintains essential funding for hunger relief programs.
Please click here to sign a letter letting our state legislators know how vital it is to retain funding for the SFA Program to keep thousands of families, children, and individuals nourished and fed.
CLICK HERE.

NEWS OF THE FEDERAL JOINT COMMITTEE...

Additionally, Food Lifeline had been diligently following the Federal Joint Committee and any actions they might have taken to reduce the federal deficit. We asked for your help to urge Senator Patty Murray and her fellow Committee members to protect nutrition programs when making possible cuts. Thank you so much for all of your effort, time, and help in the last few months.
Unfortunately, despite all our hard work, the Joint Committee put out a statement saying they were not able to reach a bi-partisan agreement before their deadline. They expressed their hope that Congress would take into account the work they had done when making further decisions about tackling the deficit. It is our hope that Congress will take our recommendations into account as well, and that all of our hard work, concerns and voices made an impact and will be considered the final budget.

Food Lifeline Advocacy Opportunities and News!

From WSU Extension: Energy Bars - Healthy Choice?

2011-12-08T10:32:00.001-08:00

Food, Fun & Facts

by WSU Extension

1946 3rd AveLongview, WA 98632

December 2011
Debbie Fredricks(360) 577-3014 x7dfredricks@wsu.edu

Energy Bars - Healthy Choice?
In our fast paced world many adults skipmeals in order to save time. Of course, weall know this is not healthy. In an effort tostay healthy people sometimes turn to energybars. Unfortunately, some energy bars areactually candy bars masquerading as a heathfood.

Simply reading the nutritional claims on thelabel doesn‟t ensure that the bar you arechoosing is healthy. Reading the ingredientlabel and the nutrition facts label is the onlyway to tell.
The Nutrition Facts Label lists the nutrientsin the product. It shows the amounts of thenutrients as well. The Ingredient List isusually underneath the Nutrition FactsLabel. Ingredients are listed by weight withthe first three ingredients being the most inthe product. Both labels are important inhelping choose healthy foods.
According to experts, when choosing anenergy bar these are the things to look for:

 Choose a bar low in fat, less than 5grams of fat
 Aim for 3 to 5 grams of fiber
 Check the calories – some can be as
high as 340 calories

 Look for at least 5 grams of protein
 Choose one with less than 35% of
calories from sugar
Look for the words „hydrogenated orpartially hydrogenated oil” or “palm orcoconut oil” on the ingredient label. Theseterms indicate the fat in the product is theunhealthy type of fat, either saturated fat orTrans fat. Each of these fats is harmful toheart health and should be limited.
Remember that energy comes from calories,so any food will give you energy. The goal isto choose nutritious food for energy. Insteadof an energy bar choose keep quick to fix orgrab foods handy that also supply fiber andprotein. Try:

A small container of yogurt and apiece of fruit
A piece of whole grain toast withpeanut butter or other nut butter
A piece of string cheese with a thinslice of meat rolled around it andsome whole grain crackers
A tuna sandwich and fresh broccoli
Boiled egg, whole wheat Englishmuffin

This material was funded in part by USDA's Food Stamp Program. The Food Stamp Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for abetter diet. To find out more, contact your local DSHS Community Service Office.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, politicalbeliefs or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250- 9410 or call (800)795-3272(voice) or (202)720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

FREE BUDGET WEBINAR ON DECEMBER 20 for OMB A-110 Compliance

2011-12-06T18:05:00.001-08:00

December 6, 2011

FREE BUDGET WEBINAR ON DECEMBER 20

Budget Bombshell: Budgeting Practices for OMB A-110 Compliance
Date: 12/20/2011
Time: 2:00 P.M. EST
Length: One hour
Pricing: Free to attendees
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Speaker

Kevin Myren, CommonBond

Biography

Kevin Myren is a certified public accountant. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration at CommonBond Communities – the largest non-profit provider of affordable housing in the Midwest, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors of CommonBond Housing Corporation and CommonBond Investment Corp. Further, Kevin is vice president and CFO of CommonBond Endowment Corporation and the Senior Vice President for numerous non-profit housing communities in the Midwest. He also has his own business providing finance and administrative services and consulting for non-profit organizations.

Kevin has worked with various regional public accounting and consulting firms specializing in service to non-profit and government clients. He is a frequent presenter on topics related to Federal regulations for grant funded organizations, change management, cooperative ventures and organizational accountability.

Prior to joining CommonBond, he was the Chief Finance Officer at Augsburg College and Madison Area Technical College (MATC). During his 22 years in previous positions, he has developed financial systems and procedures culminating with receipt of a coveted AAA rating from Moody’s and Standard and Poors, while at MATC.
Summary

This will be a free training on budgeting in compliance with OMB A-110. The training will include indicators for measuring upcoming problems and successes, best practices in budget development and monitoring and key systemic financial indicators to catch problems and gauge success.

There will be an opportunity to get in-depth questions answered by Kevin Myren through the T/TA System Discussion Board in the days following this webinar. Stay tuned for details on how to participate.
Attendee Takeaways

• What does OMB A-110 require for reporting/analysis
• What are some of the best practices in budget development and monitoring
• What are the best practices for financial reporting that meet the OMB requirements (and good governance)
• How to identify key financial and systemic indicators of developing problems and successes.

Who Should Attend

• Executive Leadership
• CFOs

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
This publication was created by National Association of Community Action Agencies - Community Action Partnership in the performance of the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

R

The Community Action Partnership is in the 2011 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
Our designation number is 80371.

m

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Support Have A Heart For Kids Day

2011-12-02T10:57:00.001-08:00

Today is the day. Kids, parents, grandparents, teachers, aunties, and advocates are filling the offices of legislators and the Capitol steps to demand that our legislators protect our future, and protect kids.
Boost their power and magnify their impact by making your voice heard today too. Today is a day when legislators, along with all our friends and family, should be surrounded by the message that it's time for our Washington State lawmakers to protect our future and protect kids.
Here's what you can do:

Spread the word! Join Children's Alliance on Facebook. Check out the proclamation by, for, and about the kids of Washington. Share it with friends, post it to your wall, and add your comments. Check out our page throughout the day for updates to share with friends.
Call the Legislative Hotline and leave a message for your three legislators and the Governor. It's easy! Call toll-free 1-800-562-6000.

An operator will take your message and send it off. Here's a sample message (Feel free to edit.)

"Please protect kids and families as you balance the budget. Kids and families are already suffering from the recession and budget cuts. Please protect investments in Apple Health for Kids, Working Connections Child Care and State Food Assistance."

Testimonials About State Nutrition & Children Programs

2011-11-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

Volunteer Needs at Union Gospel Mission

2011-11-29T12:31:00.001-08:00

The Mission needs your help in December - and beyond....

Christmasis coming! What better way to celebrate the love that was given to us by givingback!

Here are someimmediate needs to prayerfully consider:

Mission(general)

· HolidayThank You calls – Spread the Joy of Christmas by helping us thank thosewho serve alongside you. This may be done from home as your schedule allows.We will provide you with all information and support needed. You can do thiswith your warm slippers on!

· Administrative and Reception help needed at our South OthelloCampus

Seniors

· SeniorMinistries needs leaders and participants to bring fellowship groups intoResidential facilities throughout Seattle. You will be given training andmaterials; the Love and Fellowship is all yours!

Men’sShelter

· Prepareand drop off Sandwiches (120) for Search and Rescue. This can be done from homein advance with your supplies (what a blessing!) or from our kitchen between6:30 and 8:00pm on the night selected.

· MorningWatch van ministry every weekday from 6 to 9am. Respond to requests fromdowntown businesses and concerned neighbors and assist in encouraging thosesleeping out of doors to come in to the Mission.

Womenand Children’s Shelter (Hope Place)
·        Hope Place Graduation 12/14. Childcare help needed from5:45-8:30pm
·        Hope Place needs 120 Sack Lunches made and delivered at Noon onSaturday.
·        Groups needed for Hope Place Christmas Bring and Serve for 80people on Christmas Day
·        Tutoring for children

PrisonMinistries

· PrisonMinistries – Christmas is a difficult time for those incarcerated andtheir families; you can help in many ways, ask how!

· Prison Ministry needs volunteers to teach a Life Skills Class

YouthReach Out Center

· FridayLate Night-volunteers needed to bring food and interact with kids (8pm toMidnight). Kid friendly and great for a group!

· Christmas Party 12/16. Volunteers needed to bring food itemsfor 100 kids
· Tutoring

To volunteer for one of these opportunitiesor to re-engage with one of the Mission’s programs, call the volunteeroffice at 206.723.0767 or send us an email at volunteer@ugm.org. Also remember to tell friends and families about these needs! Thank you.

Matt Searfus

Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Outreach Services (VOS)

Seattle's Union Gospel Mission

3800 S. Othello Street

Seattle, WA 98118

206.432.8355-direct line

206.432-8358-Downtown Men's Shelter (Wednesdays)

www.ugm.org

www.hopeplace.org

What is YourPassion?

Tell us what you love to do and wewill help you Serve Rescue and Transform those in Greatest Need.

Please Complete this Questionnaire:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9QTT2PF

Event: Bonza Bash NYE 2012: a Diamond Night in the Emerald City Food, Wine, Dancing Benefit for the Washington Food Coalition December 31, 2011

2011-11-28T14:41:00.001-08:00

For Immediate Release
Seattle’s Ultimate New Year’s Eve Experience: Bonza Bash NYE 2012: a DiamondNight in the Emerald City
Food, Wine, Dancing Benefit for the Washington Food Coalition December 31,2011
Seattle—(Nov. 25, 2011)— As Seattle launches into the holiday social scene,the area welcomes the news that Bonza Bash Productions is gearing up for itsannual New Year's Eve gala. Announcing “Bonza Bash New Year’s Eve 2011: ADiamond Night in the Emerald City”. This one-of-a-kind, glamorous event standsto be the swankiest NYE event in Seattle – a can't miss social gatheringfeaturing the unique Australian flair that Bonza Bash has become known for. Theball will be held on December 31st, 8:30 p.m to 2 a.m. at the spectacular Hyattat Olive 8 and will benefit the Washington Food Coalition.
The Bonza Bash is unlike any other NYE event you've ever been to in Seattle.This black tie gala bash features live musical action and DJ's to keep thecrowd occupied well into the night. Bonza Bash hosts black tie events for themasses, making glamorous cool again and allowing attendees to dress up and getdown while spending New Year's Eve partying in style. The galabenefit will feature numerous VIP options, giving guests a chance to supportone of their favorite charities in true Seattle style.
“For guests looking for an upscale, fun, sophisticated night – a Bonza Bashticket will be just what the doctor ordered,” said David McLauchlan, Bonza BashProductions co-founder. Brenton Webster, who co-founded Bonza Bash Productionsadded, “Our guests enjoy something different from the standard NYE club-styleofferings out there – the Bonza Bash offers an opportunity for somethingunique, fun and interesting.”
The black tie dress code encourages guests to dress to impress, with a widerange of tuxedos, dinner suits, colorful gowns and cocktails dresses. Pleasenote that jeans, sports shoes and t-shirts will not be allowed, collared shirtsrequired.
Bonza Bash NYE 2012 will be held from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Hyatt atOlive 8, located at 1635 8th Avenue, Seattle. General admission tickets are$69, VIP are $225. Previous events have sold out so guests are encouraged topurchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. For additional information andto purchase tickets, please visit www.BonzaBash.com.
About Bonza Bash Productions
Offering upscale, approachable events, Bonza Bash Productions is locallyowned by Australian transplants Dave McLauchlan and Brenton Webster. The sixyear-old event planning company originally designed its events afterAustralia’s “Outback Bash”, when people travel from around the world for a
non-profit benefit weekend of upscale events constructed in Australia’sOutback. Bonza Bash events consistently benefit nonprofit organizations withfour events a year: Spring, Summer, Halloween and New Year’s Eve. For moredetails visit www.bonzabash.com, or email info@bonzabash.com.
About Washington Food Coalition
Through its statewide membership, Washington Food Coalition members findpractical solutions to common challenges. The Coalition draws on the strengthand reach of its membership to equip, educate and empower everyone working toend hunger in our state.
Washington Food Coalition provides the support that is desperately needed tokeep our emergency food network strong and supported in these trying times.This produces the ability to serve more hungry people in more effective ways,something that is invaluable in times when demand is up and supply is scarce.
# # #

Highlights from Governor's Supplemental Budget

2011-11-21T13:39:00.001-08:00

Governor Gregoire released her Proposed 2012 Supplemental Budget this morning. She proposed more than $2 billion in spending cuts, reductions to local revenue sharingand fund transfers to leave a $600 million reserve.

There are several items that directly link to anti-hunger efforts in Washington:

Support state food banks - $1.5 million

Increases funding for state food banks that serve 1.5 million clients annually. Funding will provide4.5 million meals annually.

Eliminate State Food Assistance program - $13.9 million

Halts food assistance to an estimated 11,400 individuals each month who are not eligible for federalfood assistance or who have not provided documentation of citizenship.

The major downfalls of the proposed devastating cuts include, in the Governor's mind:

More than 1,300 low-income individuals with developmental disabilities or in long-term carewill lose eligibility for personal care services; 1,000 will lose adult day health services; and 1,000of their families will lose respite services.
More than 16,600 offenders will be under community supervision for a shorter period.
Colleges and universities will see their state support reduced by another $160 million.
School districts will lose part or all of their levy equalization support.
The school year will be shortened by four days.

The Governor also proposed a revenue alternative to be sent to the public as a referendum to 'buy back' some of these services that were cut. This referendum would be sent to the voters for a temporary one-half cent increase in the statesales tax to:

Preserve services to people with developmental disabilities and those who need long-term care
Prevent further reductions to our kindergarten-through-12th grade and higher education systems
Ensure that offenders are kept behind bars or under community supervision

VISTA position with Lettuce Link @ Solid Ground

2011-11-17T12:01:00.001-08:00

Lettuce Link is seeking a Harvest against Hunger VISTA to start January 30^th. Work in collaboration with LettuceLink, a program of Solid Ground, Harvest againstHunger and other communitygroups to expand participation in growing good food and gleaning. Specificresponsibilities include: Volunteer Recruitment, Community Outreach, ProgramCoordination and Sustainability. This is a good fit if you:

- Have an interest in and ability to work with peoplefrom a variety of racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, with variouslifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages.

- Have worked with volunteer organizations and/or theemergency food system.

- Are highly organized and self-directed with theability to speak to groups.

- Can work independently and collaboratively and jugglemany different projects.

- Are committed to diversity, undoing racism,innovation and community-building.

- Can work weekends and occasional evenings during thegrowing season (with time off in exchange).

- Like to work in an office as well as an outdoorenvironment, including working in hot or cold conditions and lift 30-50 poundsregularly during the harvest.

- Are comfortable with web based social networkingtechnology.

- Can speak Spanish or Vietnamese or Cantonese (helpfulbut not required)

This is a one year, stipendposition. See attached description for moreinformation and apply to Benjamin Rasmus at benjamin@firstharvest.org

MAZON urges you to make your voice heard

2011-11-16T20:21:00.001-08:00

Dear Friend,

It appears we may have reached a crossroads in our history as a nation. How we proceed - how our elected representatives act on our behalf - will not only effect the quality of life for tens of millions of Americans, but also could determine the competitiveness of our economy for generations to come.

If you were waiting for the "right" moment,
that moment has arrived.

Hunger in America has never been more prevalent. And yet, for the first time in generations, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) could be in jeopardy. SNAP has historically enjoyed bipartisan support and protection. But the recent stalemate about the debt ceiling, and the "supercommittee" it spawned, has put the fate of this highly effective program - and the 46 millions of Americans who rely on it - at risk.

As this threat to nutrition programs has loomed large, MAZON has embraced its leadership role within the Jewish community and in the anti-hunger field. We have taken a firm public position in published editorial articles in major newspapers across the country. We encourage you to read these articles by clicking the appropriate link below:

What they're not saying about hunger in America

- Des Moines Register, 8/30/11
Putting Jewish values on poor Americans' dinner tables
- j. The Jewish news weekly of Northern California, 10/6/11

Americans need supercommittee to maintain food assistance

- Detroit Free Press 11/2/11

Where not to cut the budget

- Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/5/11

We will continue to fight to preserve the vital support that allows so many of our fellow Americans to put food on the table. But we also need your help!

Join us by raising your voice as an advocate for the 46 million Americans who need our help. Urge your elected officials to preserve funding for the nutrition programs that prevent mass starvation in our country. Write, email, or call to remind them that you will not stand for the budget to be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable among us.

Together, we can transform how it is into how it should be.

Sincerely,

Abby J. Leibman
President & CEO
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

p.s. Need help? Visit mazon.org/get-involved/advocacy or call our office at 800.813.0557.

From Feeding America: Action Alert-Urgent Need to Call Congress Today!

2011-11-16T07:53:00.001-08:00

November 16, 2011

This message is being sent to network executive directors, public policy personnel, and state associations

Right now, the Super Committee is racing against the November 23 deadline to draft legislation that would cut at least $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit. Meanwhile, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are still working to finalize the details of their recommendations to the Super Committee, which we expect will include $4-5 billion in cuts to SNAP.
Final decisions are being made this week, and the stakes are high.
Also this week, the House and Senate will consider the final FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2112), which includes funding for TEFAP, CSFP, and WIC. Thanks to your advocacy efforts, funding for anti-hunger programs was protected in the final package, and we are urging Congress to pass H.R. 2112 (also known as the “Mini-bus” Appropriations). Votes could be as early as Thursday. For additional details on the Agriculture Appropriations bill, click here.
Our window to influence these two important measures is closing fast, and we need every network member to join our national call-in day to urge Congress to protect anti-hunger programs in the Super Committee and to pass the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill.
Call Today!
Your calls and emails are making a difference, but more pressure is needed if we hope to protect programs important to our mission. Here’s how you can participate in this important national call-in day.

Call Congress! Time is running out. We must continue to keep up the pressure and demonstrate strong constituent support for programs that feed the hungry. Dial 1-877-698-8228 to connect to your members of Congress. Just stay on the line after your first call and you’ll be connected to your next member of Congress.
Deliver this simple message:

I am an employee of [INSERT FOOD BANK], which serves your constituents. There are two important issues currently before Congress that will affect hungry people in our community, and I’m counting on your support. First, I ask that you personally weigh in with the Super Committee to urge them to reject any proposals to cut anti-hunger programs like SNAP, TEFAP, CSFP, or WIC as part of any deficit reduction agreement. Second, I urge you to vote YES on H.R. 2112, which contains the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill. My food bank can barely meet the need right now, and cutting anti-hunger programs will increase hunger in our community.
Share! One call from each food bank is not enough. Share the action alert and our toll-free hotline, 1-877-698-8228, with your staff and local supporters, and be sure to promote it on your social media channels. We need to generate thousands of calls nationwide to influence this process. Help us mobilize the public across the country in support of hungry Americans!

From EFAP: Trends in Washington State Food Banks

2011-11-15T11:28:00.001-08:00

It's clear that the strain on Food Banks in Washington State continues to grow! Here are some fresh statistics on the growth in demand on Food Banks from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (the Washington State program that provides assistance to Food Banks):

·        During the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters of FY11 the number of new clients went down substantially (9.7% & 7.7%) while the number of returning clients continued to grow. Fewer people were making more trips to the food banks, indicating that those receiving help had a deeper need.

·        The above point is substantiated by the fact that the average number of visits per client per year rose from 5.0, where it had been for 5 years, to 5.6 times per year. This is a significant increase, 12%.

·        In the 4^th quarter of FY11 the number of new clients began to climb again, decreasing from the previous year by only 1.4%.   With the first quarter data of this year we find that the number of new clients have climbed back up almost to last year’s figures, a disturbing trend.

·        The number of visits (new + returning) continues to climb, to just under 2 million for the first quarter of this year alone. Keep in mind that the July-Sept quarter has had the fewest number of visits of all the 4 quarters for the last 4 years.

·        The strain on food banks is apparent. The number of pounds of food given to each person per visit decreased in FY11, the first time in the program’s history that this statistic has gone down.

·        Also perhaps indicative of the times, the value of donated food decreased by over $24 million in FY11 from FY10 and that was even without in-kind food reported by one contractor last year. That equates to over 16 million pounds less of donated food, using the state’s current value of $1.50 per pound. The overall pounds of food distributed increased by slightly over 2 million pounds, leading one to the conclusion that food banks and distribution centers had to purchase more food in FY11 than the previous year.

Fundraising Idea: Send An Appeal Letter

2011-11-14T10:18:00.001-08:00

Many of our member agencies send out appeal letters at the end of the year. Here are a few tips from Kevin Glackin-Coley of St. Leo's Food Connection on how to make our appeal letter effective:

Send annual appeal letter so it arrives just after Thanksgiving to give folks enough time to consider an end-of-year gift.
Emphasize that all our work is only possible because of community support like theirs.
Structure the letter to give an overview of what has been new this year - programs added, expanded, client numbers increased.
Include some photos for visual appeal, and a couple of highlighted comments from clients/community partners speaking to program successes/effectiveness.
Close with a listing of what gifts of various levels will buy and thank them for their on-going support.

Fundraising Idea: Barrel (s) Full of Money

2011-11-14T07:30:00.001-08:00

Here is a fundraising idea from our member agency, Blue Mountain Action Council:

Walla Walla Organizations and Businesses Team

Up to Raise A Barrel Full of Money for Food Bank

WALLA WALLA, WA- Ten Walla Walla businesses and non-profit organizations, led by the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and its’ member wineries, announced today the kick-off of a two-month fundraising campaign to raise money for the Blue Mountain Action Council’s Food Bank. The campaign, called A Barrel Full of Money is co-sponsored by Alaska Airlines, Baker Boyer Bank, Columbia REA, the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation and its’ member businesses, Integrity Design and Copy Works, the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center, Oak Tradition, Olander Design, Olive Marketplace & Café, and the Wine Alliance and its’ member wineries. The campaign launch will take place at Olive Marketplace & Café at 2 p.m. (Wed., 10/19), with the placement of the first barrel.

According to Duane Wollmuth, Executive Director of the Wine Alliance and program coordinator, “the goal of the campaign is to fill two wine barrels with money that will then be used to buy food for those in Walla Walla County who struggle in today’s economy. Individually, our member wineries have given back to the community in a variety of ways over the past two decades. We felt that through a coordinated effort and working closely with other community partners, we could go further in helping to ease the financial burden many people feel in putting food on the table. I know that filling two full barrels is a lofty goal, but if we all contribute in a small way or simply empty the change we collect at home in a jar, we can go a long way in helping BMAC’s food bank.”
The program will take place from October 19 through December 16, 2011 and will include multiple locations in the Valley at which contributions can be made. Two central barrels will be located at Olive Marketplace & Café and the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center. These barrels will have plexi-glass see-through ends so that the public can track the campaign’s progress. The final count will be conducted by Baker Boyer Bank and will be announced in mid-December.
Kathy Covey, Community Services Director for the Blue Mountain Action Council, believes “the Barrel Full of Money campaign is an ideal way for the community to help those less fortunate. Each year the BMAC Food Bank distributes an estimated 500,000 pounds of food to those in need through pantries in Walla Walla County. As everyone knows, the cost of basic essentials, such as food, has risen significantly in recent years. And, the affordability of these basic essentials has been made even tougher in our down economy.”

Fundraising Idea: Dollar Tree Connection

2011-11-14T07:25:00.001-08:00

Here is a fundraising idea from our member agency, Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank:

We’ve developed a great relationship with the Dollar Treestores through a point of purchase program. Working with 7 stores, Iselect which items I want them to focus on. These items are placed in abasket at each cashier’s station. As a customer goes through, theyare asked by the clerk if they would like to “purchase” an item forthe food bank. Please note that I pick the items for this process AND thecustomer buys it, i.e, it’s not a donation by Dollar Tree.

Every week, depending on what I’m collecting, I receivesomewhere between 1200 to 1800 pounds of product.

So why is it successful?

·       It’s an easy, quick and remarkably inexpensive feel goodfor the customer. For a mere buck, they can feel they are giving back tothe community and helping someone else.
·       It’s a quick, easy and relatively paperless activity forthe Dollar Tree stores. While they “count” the number ofitems sold, they don’t have to do any special paperwork or in-depthtraining of staff. In fact, I always stake out the sites just to watchthe clerks. If they don’t seem to be asking, I’ll talk tothem and show them how easy it is. On average, 1 out of 3 “asks”will produce a sale.
·       It’s a massive source of their increased revenue. Their corporate office has been all over this and wants to replicate it. Our region is now the largest source of revenue of all areas. Needless tosay the store managers LOVE this kind of attention from their corporate bosses.
·       It’s a consistent source of food and non-food items forthe food bank. I can change the package with just a few minutes on thephone to more efficiently fill the gap in what is not coming through fooddrive.
·       It’s malleable to whatever I need. Although my jobtitle has changed, I still do a lot of solicitation for programs other thanmine. For example, our baby program, a subset of our clothing bank,always need new baby clothes, bottles, lotions and potions to keep baby cleanand other baby items. When our director says she’s getting low, Ijust call the Dollar Trees to get them to change from food to baby items.
·       Since all the items are straight off the shelves, I don’tneed to worry so much over code dates or condition, unlike food drive fromSecond Harvest.
·       Dollar Tree’s products are mostly name-brand, so thequality is always good and recognizable.
·       You make new friends. I happened to be talking with acustomer about the program, and he got so excited, that he’s now doing afood drive with his company for us. And his company is 12 miles away!

There are several other reasons why this works, but without adoubt, it’s the easiest solicitation I’ve ever done. All Ihave to do is arrange pickup.

From AFP - Take Action: Write to Your Member of Congress - Slashing the Charitable Deduction is now ON the table!

2011-11-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

Slashing the Charitable Deduction is Now ON the Table!

Take Action – Write to Your Member of Congress

(Nov. 9, 2011) Take action today to urge your Members of Congress to oppose any tax reforms that would harm charitable giving!

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is drafting tax code changes behind closed doors, and it is slated to introduce recommendations at the end of the month. It has just been reported that Republicans are open to eliminating certain tax deductions for the wealthy in exchange for a permanent reduction of the marginal tax rates set under President George W. Bush. Now is the time for you to tell Congress to preserve the existing charitable deduction!

AFP opposes any proposed change to the itemized deduction (such as a cap or a floor) that would reduce charitable giving.

The loss of these charitable dollars will have a direct impact on the nation’s poorest and most disadvantaged. Any changes to the deduction that will diminish charitable giving will eliminate the funds that charities need to fuel their philanthropic missions such as social services, healthcare, education, housing and other essential programs and services that assist those in need.

We urgently need your help!

Make Your Voice Heard on Capitol Hill!

AFP urges its members to educate their Members of Congress about preserving the current charitable deduction. As a constituent, you represent a key voice that will be heard.

Engaging Networks has generously allowed AFP to use their online platform where you can contact your Members of Congress with the mere touch of a button. Please click this link to send an electronic letter to your House member and two Senators of your state (or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1686&ea.campaign.id=12160).

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Jason Lee, AFP's General Counsel, at jlee@afpnet.org.

Thanksgiving meal programs in Seattle

2011-11-07T15:58:00.001-08:00

During the week before, during and after the Thanksgiving holiday, a number of churches and community organizations in Seattle offer free or low-cost Thanksgiving meals for individuals and families in the area. Here is a list of Thanksgiving meals being served during the month of November.

Event: 2nd Annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa For Food Connection

2011-11-07T15:45:00.001-08:00

2nd Annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa
An evening of Irish Food, Music, and Dance
to support the St. Leo Food Connection

We'll be celebrating St. Patrick's Day a week early this year as we once again gather at St. Patrick's Scool for an evening of Irish food, music and dance in support of the St. Leo Food Connection's emergency food programs. Tickets are $50 ($500 for a table of 10) and include dinner, drinks, music by Mooncoyne and an Irish dance performance by Evolution Dance. Specialty Irish cocktails will be available for purchase as well. There is also special VIP seating for $75 ($750 for a table of ten). These tables will be closest to the stage and will have special servers.

Raffle tickets are also available ($10 each or three for $25). Grand prize - $1,000, 2nd prize $500, 3rd prize $250.

Last year's innagural Bia-Ceol-Damhsa was a great success and we hope you will join us this year. You can click on the link to the right to purchase event and/or raffle tickets. For more information please e-mail keving@foodconnection.org.

Sincerely,

Kevin Glackin-Coley

Director, St. Leo Food Connection

2nd Annual
Bia-Ceol-Damhsa

March 10, 2012
St. Patrick School
1112 N. G Street
6:00 - 10:00 PM

You can purchase Event and Raffle tickets online

Buy Tickets Now

From Feeding America: Update on Congressional Proposals to Change the Charitable Tax Deduction and Nonprofit Mailing Rate

2011-11-03T15:02:00.001-07:00

As Congress continues to develop broad ranging deficit reduction measures, multiple legislative vehicles have emerged that could significantly impact the ability of Feeding America network members to raise funds, most notably limiting the charitable tax deductions for high income tax payers and increasing the postage rates for non-profit mail. Feeding America has been and will continue to be actively engaged in fighting these efforts. Please read below to learn what you can do to help.
The first proposal, capping deductions for high income taxpayers at the 28% tax bracket, is being debated in the larger context of the Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s charge to enact at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction. Efforts to limit deductions for high income taxpayers, which would include the charitable tax deduction as well as other deductions, are part of this larger discussion. Limitations on the charitable tax deduction were included in the President’s last three budget proposals, as well as in his JOBS Act recently submitted to Congress.
The second proposal is a provision in the Postal Reform Act sponsored by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that would raise the nonprofit postal rate over the next six years. Section 403 of the legislation would reduce the current discount rate for nonprofit postage by 5% each year for the next 6 years. Once the rate increase is fully phased in, the current discount rate will be reduced from 40% to 10% by 2018. While Representative Issa made changes during the Committee markup of the legislation on October 13 that would mitigate the impact of the changes, Feeding America is concerned that any limitation on the nonprofit mailing rate remains detrimental to the long term ability of nonprofits to communicate with donors. Similar legislation has also been proposed by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in the Senate.
Feeding America has been meeting with key Members of Congress to communicate the harmful impact these issues would have on our network and the nonprofit community. Our strategy is to combine our voice with other nonprofits currently working on this issue to demonstrate a broad coalition of support while educating Members of Congress about how these issues would specifically impact our network as part of the “Perfect Storm” narrative facing food banks. Our most recent advocacy activity is detailed below:

Feeding America has been lobbying the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees with other leaders in the non-profit community.
We signed on to a letter with Independent Sector (an organization representing leading non-profits that is heavily engaged on these issues) and 125 other nonprofit organizations urging the President and Congress not to put a cap on charitable deductions for certain income brackets. A copy of the letter can be found here. Feeding America also signed on to a companion ad that Independent Sector ran in Politico on July 18. A copy of the ad can be found here.
Feeding America is part of a national grassroots campaign to protect the charitable tax deduction organized by the National Council of Nonprofits. You can read more about the National Council of Nonprofits efforts here.
In addition, Vicki Escarra and members of the Feeding America policy staff have raised this issue in numerous meetings with Members of Congress and staff and will continue to include it as one of our key legislative messages.
On October 13 Feeding America held a tele-town hall for network members located in the states and districts of House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee members, as well as members of the Special Committee on Deficit Reduction on the impact capping the charitable tax deduction will have. These Committees have jurisdiction over tax policy issues and are our top legislative targets on this issue. To view the presentation from the call click here.
Feeding America is working with Independent Sector and other nonprofit organizations to communicate the significant negative impact any changes to the nonprofit postal rate would have on fundraising efforts. This includes letters Feeding America sent to Representative Issa and Senator McCain on November 1. (here and here)
Feeding America submitted testimony for the record in response to an October 18 hearing held by the Senate Finance Committee to examine Options for Charitable Tax Reform. A copy of the testimony can be found here.

What can you do to help?

Sign on to the Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits campaigns to let Congress and the President know they must make no changes to the charitable giving incentive that threaten the ability of nonprofit organizations to continue to serve the needs of individuals and communities.
- To sign on to the Independent Sector letter, click here.
- To sign on to the National Council of Nonprofits grassroots campaign, click here. This letter is scheduled to be sent to Congressional Leadership this Monday, so sign up today.
Send a letter to your Congressional members letting them know how important protecting the charitable tax deduction is to the work your food bank is doing.
- To find out more about the issue, including sample talking points and to send a letter to your Member of Congress, click here.
Send a letter to your Congressional member and Representative Issa letting them know how detrimental increases in the nonprofit postal rate would be to the work your food bank is doing.
- To find out more about the issue, including sample talking points and to send a letter to your Member of Congress, click here.

If you have any questions about this issue, please do not hesitate to contact Carrie Calvert in the DC Office of Feeding America at ccalvert@feedingamerica.org.

Event: The Thriving Communities Conference

2011-11-02T15:55:00.001-07:00

FIRST ANNUAL

THRIVING

COMMUNITIES

FEBRUARY

2–4, 2012

CONFERENCE

FEEDING PEOPLE, CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

6449 Old Pietila Road
Clinton, WA 98236

Early Bird Registration: $125, through January 1, 2012
General Registration: $145
Meals: $110 for the weekend
Lodging: $100 for the two nights

For more information
visit whidbeyinstitute.org
call 360.341.1884
email info@whidbeyinstitute.org

Designed for collaborative teams working to create thriving local communities.

Join us on South Whidbey Island for our inaugural Thriving Communities Conference, the first in a series of annual conferences exploring the critical issues facing small communities. This year we'll explore how as members of small communities we can work together to feed ourselves while at the same time cultivating a vital sense of community. We'll share our community building experiences around food issues on South Whidbey Island, we'll work in place-based teams to address food issues in our respective communities and we'll join together to make connections and create a regional network. Your team will have an opportunity to create a food road map during the conference that will help your community thrive.

Save the date and click "register" for registration details.

THE WHIDBEY INSTITUTE AT CHINOOK | 360.341.1884 | 6449 Old Pietila Road, Clinton, WA 98236

About Hunger in Washington

2011-11-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here is some of the latest information on hunger in Washington State. Contact us for sources and more information!

Hunger in Washington

· 1 in 6 people in Washington struggle with hunger.

· As many as 400,000 children in Washington – or 25% – live in food insecure households.

· Since the beginning of the current recession, the number of Washington families struggling with hunger has almost doubled. From 2008 to 2011, the number of households experiencing hunger rose nearly 100% to more than 160,000 households. This is 6.1% of total households in Washington. Washington’s rate of hunger is 11th highest in the nation.

· 1.6 million low-income residents were served by the state’s emergency food network last year, which is comprised of community action programs, food banks, distributors, tribes, meal providers and other non-profit organizations and receives state and federal funding.

· The percent of Washington households reporting very low food security, where food intake was actually reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted, increased from 3.6% in 2005-2007 to 5.8% in 2007-2009, the highest rate in more than a decade.

· In the fall of 2010, multiple food banks are reporting an all-time high record number of clients. The emergency food network distributed over 130 million pounds of food statewide in 2010.

· The number of visits to food banks (visits = the first time someone uses the food bank plus any subsequent visits) went from 7.80 million in FY10 to 7.98 million in FY11, a significant increase. Interestingly, the number of new or unduplicated clients has decreased from 1.56 to 1.43 million. It appears that while some families have gotten back on their feet, those who are still struggling have a deeper need and are utilizing food banks more often. This increase in usage has put the emergency food system under a great deal of stress.

· Households with significantly higher rates of food insecurity include: lower income households, single men, African American and Hispanic households, and households with children headed by a single woman.

· About 985,000 individuals per month in Washington received food assistance through the Basic Food Program in 2010. This was a 20.6% increase from the year before. In terms of dollars distributed, Basic Food issuance (from both federal and state funds) in 2010 totaled over $1.5 billion.

· The National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and the Summer Feeding Programs served over one million adults and children in Washington.

· The Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, (which includes the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program) served over 315,000 state residents in 2010.

Register today! Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day

2011-11-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

Greetings Friend,

Please mark your calendar and plan to join hundreds of fellow advocates for Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day on Friday, January 20th.

Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day is an opportunity to join together as a visible and powerful community and to bring a unified message to our elected officials. We have an opportunity – even in this period of budget cuts and deficit reduction – to protect and preserve funding for affordable housing and safety-net services and to eliminate barriers to housing so that more people have the opportunity to live in safe, healthy, affordable homes in thriving communities.

Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day
Friday, January 20th, 2012
8:30 – 3:30
United Churches
Olympia, WA

Register today and reserve your spot!

Thank you to the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle/King County for providing a free, healthy lunch for all registered HHAD advocates.

Register today to reserve your spot for a pre-HHAD training. The Housing Alliance will host a number of informational workshops to prepare you for HHAD and for meeting your elected officials. Workshops are available only to those who register before December 20th.

HHAD is filled with opportunities to listen, learn, and act! Please stay tuned for guest speaker announcements and more agenda details.

8:30 - 9:30
Check-in at the United Churches located at 110 Eleventh Ave SE, Olympia
Coffee and a light breakfast will be served
Legislative Advocacy Group check-in

9:30 - 11:00
Morning Program includes:
Guest speakers
Legislative overview
Advocacy training
Panel Discussion

11:00 - 2:00
Meet with your elected officials
Workshops and special caucus sessions

2:30 - 3:30
Before you head home, join us back at the United Churches for a debrief session.

Will you be a HHAD volunteer? It takes community-wide support to make HHAD happen every year. We need volunteers of all ages and levels of experience to help us on January 20th, as well as on days leading up to the big event. For more information please contact Moque at the Housing Alliance.

Thank you for registering today!

From Seattle Human Services Coalition: Do you recieve City of Seattle funding?

2011-11-01T12:03:00.001-07:00

If you get funding from the City of Seattle or have an opinion on the process in which the City engages in funding community health and human services, this is the meeting for you!
We have invited HSD Director, Dannette Smith to talk with us about the upcoming changes within HSD that will affect all of us. Come find out what HSD has planned and be a part of this important conversation. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone in your agency or to colleagues you know who should participate.
SHSC General Meeting
"Creating the Seattle Human Services Department's Future State: Funding & Contracting Systems"
Thursday, December 8 from 3:00 - 5:00pm
YWCA, East Cherry Branch 2820 E. Cherry St, Seattle 98122
*please RSVP to Martha by calling 206.325.7105 or emailing mreyes@shscoalition.org

	December 6, 2011

	FREE BUDGET WEBINAR ON DECEMBER 20
	Budget Bombshell: Budgeting Practices for OMB A-110 Compliance Date: 12/20/2011 Time: 2:00 P.M. EST Length: One hour Pricing: Free to attendees CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Speaker Kevin Myren, CommonBond Biography Kevin Myren is a certified public accountant. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration at CommonBond Communities – the largest non-profit provider of affordable housing in the Midwest, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors of CommonBond Housing Corporation and CommonBond Investment Corp. Further, Kevin is vice president and CFO of CommonBond Endowment Corporation and the Senior Vice President for numerous non-profit housing communities in the Midwest. He also has his own business providing finance and administrative services and consulting for non-profit organizations. Kevin has worked with various regional public accounting and consulting firms specializing in service to non-profit and government clients. He is a frequent presenter on topics related to Federal regulations for grant funded organizations, change management, cooperative ventures and organizational accountability. Prior to joining CommonBond, he was the Chief Finance Officer at Augsburg College and Madison Area Technical College (MATC). During his 22 years in previous positions, he has developed financial systems and procedures culminating with receipt of a coveted AAA rating from Moody’s and Standard and Poors, while at MATC. Summary This will be a free training on budgeting in compliance with OMB A-110. The training will include indicators for measuring upcoming problems and successes, best practices in budget development and monitoring and key systemic financial indicators to catch problems and gauge success. There will be an opportunity to get in-depth questions answered by Kevin Myren through the T/TA System Discussion Board in the days following this webinar. Stay tuned for details on how to participate. Attendee Takeaways • What does OMB A-110 require for reporting/analysis • What are some of the best practices in budget development and monitoring • What are the best practices for financial reporting that meet the OMB requirements (and good governance) • How to identify key financial and systemic indicators of developing problems and successes. Who Should Attend • Executive Leadership • CFOs CLICK HERE TO REGISTER This publication was created by National Association of Community Action Agencies - Community Action Partnership in the performance of the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
	R
	The Community Action Partnership is in the 2011 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Our designation number is 80371. m back to top \| go to website

Washington Food Coalition News

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

Meet Our Members: NW Harvest Focus Group report

From Northwest Harvest

Important Info for Food Lost in Power Outage

Public Policy Brief from Washington Nonprofits

Week 3 - Bills in Committee

Nonprofit Contracting & Governance

Health & Human Services

Elections

Economic Development & Energy

Great Resources in Clearinghouse Connection from WhyHunger

Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit - Seattle Area Meeting

Description

Meet Our Members: Bellingham Food Bank

Bellingham Food Bank is Whatcom County's largest emergency food provider. Their mission is to reduce hunger in Bellingham by providing wholesome foods to those in need. They meet this mission by supplying groceries to tens of thousands of hungry Bellingham families every year.

Resource: HandsOn Tech Corps Seattle

HandsOn Tech Corps Seattle

Home

'No Denying It' - Report From Washington State Budget & Policy Center

No denying it: At least $10 billion has been cut from the state budget

Introduction

The human toll of budget cuts is undeniable

In reality, public structures have weathered more than $10 billion in budget cuts

Box 1: The maintenance budget

Claims about higher state revenues fall apart when placed in context

Resources are low, but the need for public services is high

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Endnotes

BRAND NEW Membership Map

Teen Feed hit the road!

Teen Feed will be hitting the road!

Still want to contribute? It's not too late!

Register for Hunger Action Day Now!

Poverty USA: A very graphic representation of the poverty situation in America today

POSTION OPEN: Immanuel Community Services Food Bank Coordinator

From Northwest Harvest: Advocacy Alert

The Latest from Harvest Against Hunger

From Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition: Register for Hunger Action Day 2012 TODAY!

Knowing Hunger in Washington

Advocacy 101: Your Guide to Understanding Government, Budgets, & What’s Ahead

WFC Winter Newsletter Available Online

Bio for WFC 2012 Conference Keynote Speaker, Jim Weill

From FRAC: Weekly News Digest

From AHNC: ACTION ALERTS, Special Session Update, and Hunger Action Day!

From Food Lifeline: Delivery Time!

ELIMINATION OF THE STATE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROPOSED. READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS!

NEWS OF THE FEDERAL JOINT COMMITTEE...

Food Lifeline Advocacy Opportunities and News!

From WSU Extension: Energy Bars - Healthy Choice?

FREE BUDGET WEBINAR ON DECEMBER 20 for OMB A-110 Compliance

Support Have A Heart For Kids Day

Testimonials About State Nutrition & Children Programs

Volunteer Needs at Union Gospel Mission

The Mission needs your help in December - and beyond....

Event: Bonza Bash NYE 2012: a Diamond Night in the Emerald City Food, Wine, Dancing Benefit for the Washington Food Coalition December 31, 2011

Highlights from Governor's Supplemental Budget

VISTA position with Lettuce Link @ Solid Ground

MAZON urges you to make your voice heard

From Feeding America: Action Alert-Urgent Need to Call Congress Today!

From EFAP: Trends in Washington State Food Banks

Fundraising Idea: Send An Appeal Letter

Fundraising Idea: Barrel (s) Full of Money

Fundraising Idea: Dollar Tree Connection

From AFP - Take Action: Write to Your Member of Congress - Slashing the Charitable Deduction is now ON the table!

Thanksgiving meal programs in Seattle

Event: 2nd Annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa For Food Connection

From Feeding America: Update on Congressional Proposals to Change the Charitable Tax Deduction and Nonprofit Mailing Rate

Event: The Thriving Communities Conference

About Hunger in Washington

Register today! Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day

From Seattle Human Services Coalition: Do you recieve City of Seattle funding?