Thursday, February 4, 2010

A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!

Thank you to everyone who took part in Hunger Action Day 2010! We had over 150 passionate hunger advocates in Olympia for the day, representing 32 of 49 legislative districts and conducting 90 meetings with lawmakers!

Check out the photos below, and be sure to view the video of Representative Eric Pettigrew (D, 37th legislative district) as he delivers words of inspiration and encouragement to this year's attendees.
Above: Attendees fill the Columbia Room of the legislative building.

Above & Below: Lifelong anti-hunger and nutrition advocate Nancy Amidei delivers Advocacy 101 training

Below: Kelsey Beck (Food Lifeline) and Kevin Glackin-Coley (St. Leo Food Connection) deliver the Advocacy 201 training session.


Special Guest Speaker: Representative Eric Pettigrew

Friday, January 22, 2010

2010 Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition Legislative Agenda


1. In these tough economic times, one in nine Washington families is struggling to put food on the table. Protect current funding for Washington’s front-line hunger-relief programs when they are needed most.

Protect:
  • State funding that insures access to school, summer and child care meals and leverages millions in federal funding each year.

  • WA Grown fruits and veggies in schools, initiated by the Local Farms Healthy Kids bill.

  • State funding for WIC, Maternity Support Services, and the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

  • Funding for local food banks and tribal food vouchers across the state through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP).

  • $393,000 in state funds to support the General Administration Food Programs, which allows the state to receive $15-20 million in federal food and operational support.

  • Senior Citizens Services Act funds, which help local Area Agencies on Aging provide meal assistance and other services, and funding for the Senior Farmers Market Program.

2. Feed hungry children in Washington all year long.
Request: $250,000 in additional funds to build community capacity to address summertime child hunger and leverage additional federal funding through the Summer Meal Program.

3. Preserve Washington’s support for food banks and the tribal food program.
Request: In the reorganization of programs under the new Department of Commerce, ensure the continued funding and efficiency of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) that allows local food assistance programs to respond to local hunger needs and grow the relationship between farms and food banks by relocating EFAP to the Department of Agriculture.

4. Support prompt and accurate access to the Basic Food Program.
Request: DSHS Community Service Offices are the gateway to a variety of benefit programs essential to low-income families, particularly in the current economy. Restore funds to adequately staff local offices so that applicants and recipients receive prompt, respectful and accurate service.

For more information, contact Carrie Pfab at ahnc (at) live.com

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Hunger Action Week!

Hunger is up 24 percent in Washington state, and growing numbers of people in King County don't have enough to eat. People have to choose between paying rent and buying groceries, and children are going to bed hungry. Join United Way of King County in their quest to create a hunger-free community—here and now. Here are 5 easy ways you can step up and make a real difference:
  • Advocate. Let your voice be heard! Participate in Hunger Action Day in Olympia on January 29 or contact your legislators by phone or e-mail. (REGISTER BELOW!)
  • Take the United Way of King County Hunger Challenge. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner spending only $7 a day. That's the reality for many people who rely on food stamps.
  • Volunteer. Serve a meal, stock a food pantry—find hundreds of ways to get involved by searching United Way of King County's volunteer matching tool.
  • Share. Post your thoughts, stories, photos, recipes and more on United Way of King County's blog. Tell everyone you know about Hunger Action Week and encourage them to get involved.
  • Give money to the United Way of King County Response for Basic Needs. Your gift will increase support for local food banks by helping a local cannery save fresh foods that might otherwise perish. The newly canned food will be distributed to local food banks, reducing their need to purchase such items.

Hungry for more?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

More Details

What: Hunger Action Day 2010
When: 10 am to 3 pm - Friday, January 29
Where: Columbia Room, Capitol Building - Olympia, WA
Why: To share your story and the stories of those you serve with elected officials

Schedule
10:00 am-Noon
  • Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition Legislative Agenda
  • Guest speakers
  • Advocacy 101 – Lobbying Basics and Advocacy 201 – Current Issues

Noon – 3:00 pm

  • Legislator/Staff Meetings (as scheduled)
  • Messages delivered to House & Senate members

We will schedule legislative appointments for attendees. Be sure to register online now!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Sign the AHNC Petition

We the undersigned join the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition in urging the Washington State legislature to support Washington families by protecting and improving Washington’s hunger relief system. In these tough economic times, one in nine Washington families is struggling to put food on the table. The Governor’s proposed $2.6 billion in cuts to vital programs will only increase the level of unmet needs in the state.

Now more than ever, it is essential to make hunger relief programs a priority.

Protect current state funding for key programs, such as:
  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
  • $393,000 to support the General Administration Food Programs that leverage millions in federal funding, food, and operational support
  • State contributions to WIC and for the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
  • Washington Grown Fruits and Veggies Grant initiated by Local Farms Health Kids
  • State funding that insures access to school, summer, and child care meals

Feed hungry children in Washington all year long by providing an additional $250,000 in new state funds to address summertime child hunger and leverage $2-3 million additional federal funds through the Summer Meal Program.


Preserve Washington’s support for food banks and the tribal food program by ensuring the continued funding and efficiency of the Emergency Food Assistance Program in light of proposed move from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Agriculture.

Support prompt and accurate access to the Basic Food Program by restoring funds for local DSHS Community Service Offices and FTEs that help low-income families connect to the appropriate benefit programs in a prompt and respectful manner.

As other vital programs are being dismantled or cut, we must ensure that these important food and nutrition programs are sustained. Support for these programs is also necessary for maximizing access to the federal nutrition programs that bring in millions of dollars to Washington, feeding families and strengthening local economies.

As residents of the state of Washington, we urge the State Legislature and Governor to prioritize the health and nutrition needs of Washington families in these challenging times.

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Whether you can attend Hunger Action Day or not, please click on the "Take Action" button below to sign on to the petition in support of the AHNC legislative agenda. The petition will automatically be sent to your represenatives in both the Washington State House and Senate and to the Governor - you can even personalize the letter before sending it.

Go sign the petition now!