Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and access to health care for millions of low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children at nutritional risk.

• Message: Support the President’s commitment to provide enough funding to serve all eligible WIC applicants. The WIC caseload is growing as a result of the recession and is expected to continue to climb in the coming year. Due to volatility in food costs and the potential for unemployment and poverty to increase, Congress should closely monitor WIC data throughout the appropriations process to ensure that appropriated levels will fully meet anticipated needs.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Afterschool Supper Program: The area eligibility-based Afterschool Supper Program operates in only ten states. This is a key resource for providing nutrition for low-income students spending longer hours in afterschool programs while their parents are working, particularly as more low-income parents work non-traditional or longer hours. Suppers need to be available in both school-based and other programs in low-income areas.

• Message: Support nationwide expansion of the Supper Program and allow schools in all states to serve suppers through the National School Lunch Program.

Farmers’ Market Programs:

• Message: Support the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at $20 million and the Seniors Farmers’ Market Program at $20.6 million.

Community Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP): This program has long been the primary Federal support for state and community-based anti-hunger efforts connecting low-income people with food and nutrition programs. After decades of support, CFNP has not received funding for the past four years. Particularly in the current economic context CFNP is desperately needed: CFNP funds coordinate private and public food-distribution, identify child nutrition program sponsors, and develop innovative approaches at the state and local levels to meet the nutritional needs of low-income people.

• Message: Support state and local anti-hunger efforts by funding CFNP at $15 million (funded through Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations).