Reminder: Funding Opportunity with School's Out Washington

ANHC Updates and Action Alerts: 2014 Legislative Session Week Two and Cuts to SNAP in Farm Bill

Updates & Action Alert  AHNC Weekly Update and Alerts: 2014 Legislative Session Week Two Thanks to everyone who made a contact in Olympia last week! Please make sure you are registered for Hunger Action Day HERE!  We are putting an extra shout out to folks who live in the following legislative districts where we have meetings but no attendees so far:  Districts 3, 4, 15, 17, 25  Last week was a busy one as bills continued to be dropped and hearings on bills began. Feb. 7 is the deadline for bills to be out of the House of origin (except for fiscal bills). Emergency Food Assistance Program There are over 30 House members and at least 15 senators who have signed on to support additional funding for EFAP. Rep. Blake and Sen. Hatfield are organizing this effort for another week. If your lawmaker has signed on, please make sure to thank them. Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline have begun to coordinate legislative meetings to include a local food bank manager joining by phone, which is a great way for lawmakers to hear from local constituents who can't be in Olympia. Washington Food Coalition is organizing a community sign on letter, and more than 130 organizations as well as 157 individuals have signed so far. Click here to add your organization. The letter will be delivered to lawmakers the day after Hunger Action Day. State Food Assistance Update The Children's Alliance is circulating a sign on letter to House members early next week. The letter, hosted by Rep. Pettigrew, will urge budget writers to complete restoration of SFA.   If you talk with House members who would like to sign on in support of full funding for State Food Assistance, please let me know and we'll get them signed on. Please remember that we have an alive alert at to urge your network to go to this link to send a message to their legislators about restoring SFA.   We are also collecting organizational sign-ons for a letter to legislators about full funding for SFA. The letter is revised from last year's letter. If you signed last year, you should have received an email already stating we are resubmitting the letter. If you know of organizations who would like to sign, please pass it along. Click here to see the letter.  School Breakfast Bill HB 2536 and SB 6444 Breakfast After the Bell bills have been introduced in both houses, however, hearings have not yet been scheduled. A new one-pager is now available. Action Needed: Contact Senator Litzow and Representative Tomiko Santos and ask that they give the Senate and House bills hearings in the respective Education Committees. Farmers Market Nutrition Programs A revised factsheet is available on the Farmers Market Nutrition Program request for an additional $500,000 in the Supplemental Budget.   Food and Farming Lobby Day is Feb. 11. The state Farmers Market Association conference is this weekend and speakers will discuss this request and ask members to take action. Hunger Action Day    Action Needed!  Register now for Hunger Action Day on Friday, Feb. 7 in Olympia! Hunger Action Day is the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition's annual lobby day - come to learn about our hunger priorities, get updates on what's happening in the legislature, and meet with your lawmakers.  Click here to register and we'll make appointments with your legislators.  If you can't come to Olympia in person, you can participate in our online lobby day. Click hereand add your voice to our online petition!
Follow us on

Updates & Action Alert  Farm Bill Conference Committee Agreement The House and Senate conference committee on the Farm Bill came to an agreement this weekend and filed their report on Monday evening. It appears that the House will vote on the conference bill Wednesday. The SNAP cuts in the conference bill amount to $8.6 billion over 10 years. These savings are accrued by raising the amount each SNAP household must receive in LIHEAP funds in order to receive the Standard Utility Deduction to $20. Washington is one of 13 states that have utilized a small LIHEAP payment to streamline the utility deduction process and provide higher benefits to families. We estimate that 232,000 Washington households will experience a drop in benefits (up to $90 per month). New applicants will be affected in March 2014; current recipients will receive lower benefits (unless they can provide utility bills that confirm payment) as their certification period ends over the coming year. The bill has modest boosts in nutrition supports in respects (e.g. for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), for "double bucks" farmers' market programs, for improved SNAP education and training programs, for Healthy Food Financing). These are small positive steps but are far from commensurate to the SNAP damage in the bill.   For example, if Washington received $20 million in new TEFAP funding, the amount allocated by the bill to the entire country, we would still by $50 million behind as DSHS estimates that lost benefits to the "heat and eat" change will total $70 million. Rep. DelBene, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, worked hard to achieve expanded pilots of positive employment and training strategies like those utilized by the Seattle Jobs Initiative. It's likely Washington will receive added funds for these pilots. However, language was added that opens the door for states to choose to pilot mandatory work requirements and require TANF work activities. Once the House votes on the bill on Wednesday, it will move to the Senate where we might see a vote as early as next week. Onerous House SNAP provisions that did not make the final bill include changes to Categorical Eligibility that would have forced Washington restore the asset and vehicle limits and drop gross income eligibility back to 130% of the federal poverty level. In addition, no across the board work requirements were adopted and current provisions that allow waivers in high unemployment areas of the "3 month out of 3 years' time limit on receipt of benefits by Able Bodied Adults without Dependents were not changed. Next Steps: Contact your member of Congress and ask that they speak out about the SNAP cut in the bill AND vote against the conference committee reporttomorrow on the House floor. We're asking members of Congress to speak up about the impact the SNAP cut will have on Washington families even if they choose to vote for the bill.
Follow us on

FRAC Statement on the Farm Bill

SNAP Cuts in Farm Bill Will Lead to Less Food for Vulnerable People

Statement attributable to FRAC President Jim Weill

Contact: Jen Adach, FRAC, 202-986-2200 or 202-631-3206, jadach@frac.org
Washington, D.C. — January 28, 2014 — The Farm Bill moving from conference committee to the floor of the House and Senate will cut SNAP benefits to an estimated 850,000 households by an average of $90/month.  The Food Research and Action Center is encouraging members to vote “No” on the bill because of the pain this provision will cause for so many of the most vulnerable members of our society, making monthly food allotments fall even further short of what is needed.
SNAP is essential to the nutrition, health and well-being of 47 million Americans each month. But every participant suffered a significant cut in benefits beginning lastNovember 1st.  Demand at emergency food providers around the country has skyrocketed.  Now the Farm Bill, if passed, will considerably worsen the already bad situation for nearly a million households.
The SNAP cuts in the conference bill amount to $8.6 billion over 10 years.  The bill has modest boosts in nutrition supports in respects (e.g. for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), for “double bucks” farmers’ market programs, for improved SNAP education and training programs, for Healthy Food Financing). These are small positive steps but are far from commensurate to the SNAP damage in the bill.
We appreciate that key conferees and other Senators and House members spoke and acted to reject the far larger harmful cuts proposed by the House.  But FRAC believes the $8.6 billion SNAP cut is deeply harmful.
This cut has been opposed by major newspapers, anti-poverty and anti-hunger groups and food banks across the country.  It is inconsistent with polls showing voters—across party, age and other demographics—reject food stamp cuts.  It is inconsistent with the President’s proposals to improve, not harm, SNAP benefits.  In a bitter irony, the bill goes to the floor almost exactly a year after an expert Institute of Medicine committee found that SNAP benefits are already inadequate for most families to purchase an adequate, healthy diet; and it comes in the same month that researchers issued a new study showing that low-income people have increased hypoglycemia-related hospital admissions late in the month because they run out of food.  The SNAP cuts will be a blow to health and nutrition, and to the government’s long-term fiscal well-being as well.

Food LifeLine Advocacy Update: Start of State Legislative Session

ADVOCACY UPDATE

This is a busy time of year for the Public Policy team as we lobby our lawmakers in Olympia and D.C. During this time, we'll be leaning on you for some additional support to reach out to lawmakers to help move our legislative agenda forward. Be on the lookout over the next few months for easy ways to take action to help strengthen anti-hunger and nutrition programs at both the state and federal level.  Sincerely, Gina Clark and Katharine Ryan Food Lifeline Public Policy Team

WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS BEGUN!   The state legislative session began January 13 and we hit the ground running. This year, our legislative agenda is focused on securing an additional $1 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), which provides funding for food banks. Our team has been meeting regularly with state lawmakers about EFAP and providing testimony in support of the $1 million increase. Several of our agency partners including Robert Coit (Thurston County Food Bank), Carla Jones (Seattle Indian Center), and Kevin Glackin-Coley (St Leo Food Connection) provided powerful testimony for additional funding. A special thanks goes out to these amazing executive directors for taking time out of their busy schedules to speak up for food bank funding.      Additional support from you can help further this ask. If you or your organizations have not yet signed on to our community letter in support of EFAP, please sign uphere. It's a quick and easy way to let your legislator know how important this funding is as they make difficult funding choices this session. FARM BILL UPDATE Negotiations to reauthorize the Farm Bill are still ongoing. The Farm Bill sets U.S. agriculture and food and nutrition policy, and provides funding for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps), that helps feed over 1 million Washingtonians.   In order to help balance the budget, the Senate has proposed $4.5 billion in cuts to SNAP over the next 10 years. The House has proposed $40 billion in cuts over 10 years. Since the fall a selected group of lawmakers from both the Senate and House have been working to reach a compromise. A vote on the compromise bill is anticipated on January 29th, and early indications are that food stamps will be cut by approximately $8 billion over 10 years. If you oppose these cuts, please contact Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell and your Representative. You can simply call or email them with the message, "I oppose cuts to SNAP." Your voice will be heard and could help preserve benefits for nearly 40 million Americans who rely on food stamps to feed their families. ON THE HORIZON A quick snapshot of upcoming hunger relief issues! Farm Bill vote expected January 29   Hunger Action Day February 7, register here State revenue forecast February 20   Food Lifeline feeds hungry people. We stock the shelves and fill the tables of 275 food banks, meal programs and shelters throughout Western Washington.  Food Lifeline thanks MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, for supporting our advocacy program.

Still time to apply - Boost your Volunteer Engagement in 2014 -VIP Manager Corps

Is your organization ready to improve your volunteer engagement practices?  In the current economic climate, human service organizations must maximize all resources including smart and effective use of volunteers.

United Way of King County’s  VIP Manager Corps (VIP MC), offered in partnership with 501 Commons, provides a temporary boost in volunteer program staffing so that you can grow your volunteer programs.

Organizations will:

·         Host a pro-bono Volunteer Manager for 10 hours/week for 6-8 months

·         Develop the essential tools and systems that you need

·         Access volunteer management training, tools and resources

Interested in learning more? 
Read Below for further information and don’t delay. Space is limited.

Ready to talk?
Call United Way to schedule a brief screening call by January 29, 2014. Program applications must be received by February 3, 2014.

Please contact Carolyn Cunningham (CCunningham@uwkc.org  206.461.3656 ) any time if you have questions about this invitation. VIP Manager Corps, offered in partnership with 501 Commons, has great pay-offs, but requires a significant commitment and needs to be the right fit for your organization at this time.

Extra Help to Engage More Volunteers in Your Mission! 
United Way’s Volunteer Impact Partnership (VIP) Manager Corps, a program delivered in partnership with 501 Commons, helps local nonprofits develop and sustain effective volunteer engagement programs and practices. Twenty King County organizations will receive a Volunteer Manager Corps (VMC) Member who will serve 10 hours per week for about eight months and up to 300 hours. VMC Members will help develop the essentialtools and systems needed to more effectively engage with volunteers and community members. Organizations will work closely with their VMC Member to identify volunteer program needs, implement projects, track results, and ensure that improvements are sustained long-term.

The next VIP Manager Corps cohort starts in April 2014.

What can a VMC Member do for my organization?
The VMC Member is provided as a way to boost your organization’s capacity to improve volunteer engagement efforts, not to serve as a replacement of current staff work. VMC Members will be used in addition to current volunteer engagement efforts to result in additional, sustained benefit.

You might use a VIP Manager Corps Member to help your organization create or update:
• a volunteer recruitment plan
• a volunteer handbook
• volunteer position descriptions
• a volunteer orientation and trainings
• a volunteer recognition plan
• or other approved projects that meet your volunteer program needs

After setting your volunteer program goals at the launch, organizations will work with the VMC Member and a VMC Advisor to select 6-12 projects and create a work plan for the VMC Member to accomplish during his/her service (refer to the VMC Potential Projects List for ideas).

While we encourage organizations to have a good idea of what you would like to accomplish at the start of the program, you won’t determine your specific projects until after you set your volunteer program goals during the program launch. During the first four weeks after the program launch, you and your VMC Member will meet with a VMC Advisor twice to determine your volunteer program needs and create a work plan that outlines the VMC Member’s projects, priorities and timeline.

VMC Members will be community volunteers with diverse backgrounds, strong people skills, and a commitment to service.  They will have at least two years of experience working in an office environment, proficient computer skills, effective written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work 10 hours per week during standard office hours. Volunteers will be expected to attend all cohort meetings, work independently & with teams, communicate frequently, meet deadlines, exercise good judgment, and take initiative to complete projects & reports.

VMC Members are not experts in volunteer management. United Way and 501 Commons will provide VMC Members and organizations with some training and guidance in volunteer management best practices, but it is not a replacement for oversight and feedback from you about what is best for your organization.

Organizational Commitment
Organizations will assign a paid staff member to serve as the Host Site Supervisor (HSS). The HSS can expect to spend approximately 2-3 hours per week (8-12 hours per month) throughout the 8-month program. The HSS will need to have the capacity to supervise, regularly meet with, and support the VMC Member as they would any other new staff member with the organization. This includes providing a safe place to work, clear directions, access to needed information, and day-to-day oversight of projects.

The HSS is also responsible for the following (refer to the full program schedule for exact dates/times):
• Help select your VMC Member by attending an interview event on April 1, 4-7pm (may end earlier if possible; interview schedule will be determined by Mar. 26.)
• Attend the program launches on April 23 and May 7 from 9am-12:30pm, and a Host Site Supervisor cohort check-in (via webinar) on May 28 from 9-10:30am.
• Attend two meetings with your VMC Member and VMC Advisor during the first four weeks after the program launch to draft and finalize the VMC Member’s work plan.
• Attend regular check-in meetings with your VMC Member (once every 1-2 weeks).
• Supervise your VMC Member as you would any other staff member.
• Participate in additional required cohort meetings and program check-ins with 501 Commons.
• Provide timely and thorough feedback on documents developed by your VMC Member.
• Collect and report evaluation data including, but not limited to, the number of volunteers, number of volunteer hours, number of new volunteer positions created, and the impact of those volunteers on your mission/service levels.
• Take responsibility for the project goals and outcomes, including sustainability of projects, and ensure that the organization provides support to your VMC Member in order to achieve them.

The HSS will serve in this role throughout the duration of VIP Manager Corps. If for some reason the original HSS cannot fulfill the commitment, the organization will need to replace the supervisor with another paid staff member. In the event that 501 Commons needs to recruit a replacement VMC Member, we ask that organizations continue to commit to participating in the full length of the program until a replacement has been found.

Thank you for your interest in the 2014 VIP Manager Corps Program!

FRAC Who Goes Hungry Video Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2014
CONTACT:  Elizabeth Bartolomeo, Fenton, 202-789-7753, ebartolomeo@fenton.com
Jen Adach, FRAC, 202-986-2200 or 202-631-3206, jadach@frac.org
Food advocate and Top Chef Judge Tom Colicchio says ‘no one should go hungry’ in new video against SNAP cuts
Washington, DC – Top Chef judge and Executive Director of “A Place at the Table,” Tom Colicchio joins the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) to urge Congress to reject any cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). Visit whogoeshungry.org to watch a new video that calls attention to how millions of vulnerable Americans will be hungrier if Congress goes through with even more cuts to SNAP.
“The monthly cut per family may only amount to $26, but you can’t truly comprehend the pain of losing $26 until you're in a situation where your refrigerator is empty at the end of the month,” said Tom Colicchio. “The decision to cut SNAP comes down to a question of who should go hungry. And the answer is no one should go hungry.”
Watch the video and raise your voice at whogoeshungry.org. 
As Congress continues to negotiate the Farm Bill, the Who Goes Hungry campaign asks lawmakers to answer the question, “Who goes hungry?” if they include cuts to SNAP. The answer:  their most vulnerable constituents, including children, seniors, veterans and working families.
The Who Goes Hungry campaign is a project of the Food Research and Action Center, the country’s leading nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and under-nutrition in the United States. Learn more about the campaign at www.whogoeshungry.org.
###

---

About Us: The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition. Visit our Web site (www.frac.org) to learn more

How You can Help Feed the Hungry in Your Area

How You can Help Feed the Hungry in Your Area 

 by Lily Arnold, Guest Contributor

It is hardly a secret that, thanks to a combination of economic difficulties and international food shortages, lower income families in the Washington State area are now at risk of going hungry. Heavy rainstorms and droughts worked in combination last summer to effectively destroy large swathes of domestic crops while, overseas, similar problems in Europe and Asia pushed up the prices of imports from usually reliable sources in South America. All in all, it is hardly surprising that emergency centers such as Yakima Food Bank have had their work cut out trying to feed the hungry this Christmastime.

However we believe that, although the battle against hunger is massively challenging, it is by no means unwinnable. By raising awareness of issues surrounding food poverty and encouraging more communities to band together in assisting each other in times of need, we hope to tackle this key issue head on and ease the pressure upon food banks at times of crisis. This is why we have compiled a list of small changes you can make in your day to day life to help us win the war against hunger bit by bit.

Planning Meals to Cut Waste

Did you know that, in 2011 alone, citizens of the United States of America produced more than 36 million tons of food waste? Or, how about this fact – at this very moment, 1 in 6 Americans are going hungry as they simply cannot afford to feed themselves or their families. When problems are put side by side like this, the solution seems very simple; by cutting down on food waste, we can feed more hungry people. So why aren’t we doing it? It is very easy to generate food waste, especially as so many supermarkets in this country hold promotions offering their customers “2 for the price of 1” deals. We’ve all been guilty of picking up an extra item and forgetting about it once in a while! Planning meals ahead of schedule and only picking up essentials is great for two reasons, as you can help in cutting down food waste and, do as Kwikmed suggest and gain greater control over your diet at the same time.

Donating to Food Banks

We’ve already mentioned the fact that food banks in America are being pushed to breaking point, and that even with their help millions of Americans go hungry due to a lack of finances. Now we’re going to talk a little about how you can help. Those 2 for 1 supermarket deals we mentioned above can actually help in this situation, as if you know your family will only eat one pack of potato chips in a week, the other could be dropped in at your local food bank – it may not be much, but in times such as these literally everything counts. Similarly, if you are reorganizing your kitchen cupboards and come across some tins you bought on an impulse and never plan to use, food banks would welcome them with open arms. For those who grow their own fruit and vegetables, you’re certainly doing your bit for the environment, but will you really use everything you harvest? Fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy are the most commonly wasted foods, so donating any excess you may have will help feed the hungry in your local area and also prevent your hard labor ending up in a landfill.

Community Involvement

Taking these steps in your own home is an excellent start in tackling hunger, but if you wish to go a step further you can do a world of good in your local community. If you are part of a church, for example, you could maybe ask to use the church’s facilities to hold a fundraiser or free soup kitchen once a month – many churches in Washington State already run initiatives of this kind, so perhaps you could seek volunteers from the congregation next Sunday! Alternatively, approaching local store owners and asking them to donate any food which they have not sold at the end of the day, or even sell it to a community food poverty group for a discounted price, is a win win situation for both parties involved. The store owner moves unsold stock from the shelves, and there will be more full bellies in your community by the end of the day.

Tackling food poverty is not all about hosting hunger strikes at city hall or feeding the five thousand in a single day – it is a marathon, not a sprint, and therefore requires dedication in raising awareness at all times. Any small changes you can make to your lifestyle in order to battle hunger are a step towards a fairer world, and if you can make changes in your community the message will spread even further.

AHNC Updates & Action Alert: 2014 Session Update-Week One

Updates & Action Alert

AHNC Weekly Update and Alerts: 2014 Legislative Session Week One REGISTER FOR HUNGER ACTION DAY HERE!! (see more below) Session Background The 2014 Legislative Session began this week with dozens of bill filings and hearings on the Governor's Supplemental Budget in the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees.  On Monday morning more than a dozen lobbyists met for the first AHNC Lobbyist meeting on the session. These meetings take place every Monday morning at 11 a.m. in John A Cherberg Senate Office Building Room 234 - if you're in Olympia, stop by! We'll be following up these meetings with a call for updates on the AHNC Legislative Agenda items from leads on each issue.  This communication will include information and will also outline ACTIONS needed in the coming week on Coalition issues.  As you know, 2014 is a Supplemental Budget year when the legislature meets for a shorter period.  There is debate about whether there will be a Supplemental Budget written this year.  Governor Inslee has presented a budget; none of the AHNC budget priorities were included in his request.  This does not mean that these programs are being cut!  It means that there are currently no proposed changes to the programs.  Updates    Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) On Monday, the House Appropriations Committee heard testimony on the Governor's budget proposal where Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline testified about the need to increase funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program.  On Wednesday, the Senate also held a hearing on the Governor's budget - a huge thanks to Carla Jones (Seattle Indian Health Center Food Bank), Kevin Glackin-Coley (St. Leo Food Connection), and Robert Coit (Thurston County Food Bank) who testified eloquently for additional funding for EFAP.  Clickhere to watch their testimony (beginning near  2:07).    Action Needed!  Washington Food Coalition is collecting signatures on a community letter of support for EFAP to deliver to legislators on Hunger Action Day.  Click here to sign on your organization.  Then please forward to your local partners and community organizations and ask for their support, too.  We are also working with Rep. Blake and Sen. Hatfield who are circulating EFAP letters of support among legislators - please contact your legislators and make sure they have signed on before the end of the month.  Thanks to Claire Lane for providing this information.    State Food Assistance (SFA)      The Children's Alliance and members of their action network from Auburn and Federal way provided testimony on Monday and Wednesday on the need to equalize SFA benefits with SNAP benefits.  The Children's Alliance will be holding Have a Heart for Kids Day onFebruary 3. The day begins at 10 a.m. in the Columbia Room in the Legislative Building and will include a noon rally on the Leg Building steps. More information is available atwww.childrensalliance.org.    Action Needed! The Children's Alliance issued an alert this week asking our members to contact legislators about full funding of SFA.   It's easy to direct folks from your networks to this alert; if they enter their address, the website will find their legislators and contacting them is as easy as clicking a button.  You can find the alert here. For more information, contact Linda Stone, linda@childrensalliance.org.  Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP)   Claire Lane provided testimony at the Wednesday Senate budget hearing on the importance of the FMNP and the need for added funds to expand the program.  A lobby day for FMNP has been scheduled for February 11. Contact Ellen Gray at the WA Sustainable Food and Farming Network for more information (egray@wsffn.org). School Breakfast The first week of state legislative session was a busy one as signatures were gathered for the Breakfast after the Bell bill. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila is sponsoring the bill in the House and Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island is sponsoring the companion bill in the Senate.  Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw is a co-sponsor in the House.  Katie Mosehauer made an excellent presentation on Washington Appleseed's  Future of Breakfast report to a joint work session of House Education and House Health and Wellness Committees.  There were a number of questions raised by Committee members after the presentation centering on cost, appeal of school breakfasts, displacement of instructional time and usurping parental responsibility.  In the meantime, we are talking with and providing information to a number of school organizations to bring them on board.  Action Needed! If you have contacts with any school organizations or with elected officials, we would encourage you to share your support of this approach to increasing school breakfast. Please make sure you stay on message with this legislative one pager.  Thanks for Lauren McGowan for providing the update.  Hunger Action Day    Action Needed!  Register now for Hunger Action Day on Friday, Feb. 7 in Olympia! Hunger Action Day is the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition's annual lobby day - come to learn about our hunger priorities, get updates on what's happening in the legislature, and meet with your lawmakers.  Click here to register and we'll make appointments with your legislators.  If you can't come to Olympia in person, you can participate in our online lobby day. Click hereand add your voice to our online petition!