1.  24 Cities Miss Average One in Three Eligible Households with Food Stamps

(Reuters, October 11, 2007)

Food stamps miss nearly three million eligible people in 24 U.S. cities, according to a recent report released by the Food Research and Action Center. The study found that only 65 percent of eligible people received food stamp benefits. According to FRAC, local governments should take steps to make it easier to for people to enroll in the program, such as taking applications over the phone. FRAC added that Congress should improve food stamp benefits, which average $1 per meal. Currently, Congress is taking up the Farm Bill, which includes the Food Stamp Program. The House included an increase of $4.2 billion over five years for the program. The Senate is expected to act this fall. "Nearly 3 million eligible people are left out of the program in these cities alone," said FRAC President Jim Weill. "Congress needs to improve access ... and benefits." In the meantime, official estimates forecast that food prices will rise by 4.5 percent this year.

Read the study:    Food Stamp Access in Urban America: A City-by-City Snapshot

2.Food Prices Continue Upward Trend

(Houston Chronicle, October 8, 2007)

The forces behind the rise in food prices are global and not letting up anytime soon. Grocery receipts are bulging because the raw ingredients, transporation costs, and packaging cost more than they have in decades. Chicago resident Andrea Williams can see the increases in her grocery bills by looking back at her shopping receipts, which she saves. "In 2004, I bought a gallon of milk, it was a $1.63," Williams said. Last month, a gallon of milk cost nearly $3 a gallon. According to John Lonski, chief economist of Moody's Investor Service, this is the worst bout of food inflation since 1990, but it is not yet "worrisome to the economy."

 3. Poverty Gap Widens

(Reuters, October 12, 2007)

The gap between America's richest and poorest is at its widest in at least 25 years, with the wealthiest taking home a record share of the nation's income that exceeds even the previous high in 2000, according to recent data from the Internal Revenue Service.  Those in the top 1% now earn 21.2% of all U.S. income earned in 2005, an increase from 2004 when the top 1 percent earned 19 percent of the nation's income.

4. Arkansas Benefit Bank Aims to Boost Awareness of Federal Assistance Programs

(THV.com, October 8, 2007)

Arkansas hopes to make federal money more accessible to its residents through a "first-of-its kind" program called the Benefit Bank. People can meet with trained volunteers at local facilities, take a survey, and find out which federal assistance programs they may be eligible for. The program targets working families that may not know they are eligible for programs. The program will start as a pilot in seven counties: Hempstead, Izard, Mississippi, Montgomery, Phillips, Pulaski, and Washington.

5.MANNA Food Bank Asks Community to Take Food Stamp Challenge

(Asheville Citizen Times, October 11, 2007)

MANNA Foodbank (Asheville, N.C.) challenged residents to try to eat for one week on the money received by the average food stamp recipient in an attempt to raise awareness of hunger in the community. Participants could spend up to $22.05 a week on food, and were encouraged to keep a journal to detail their experiences on the challenge. Congress is looking at the Farm Bill,  which covers food stamps and other nutrition programs. “We’re asking Congress to continue the funding and to at least investigate the amount [of the current food stamp benefits],” said Don Harris, director of fundraising for MANNA.

Read more:           FRAC’s ongoing coverage of the Food Stamp Challenges

6.Additional Food Stamp Centers Offer Extended Hours

(The Daily Journal, October 8, 2007)

Atlantic County (N.J.) hopes to make it easier for residents to apply for food stamps by providing five additional locations with extended hours. Two of the sites will stay open until 7:30 p.m., while the remaining three will stay open until 6:30 p.m.

7."Breakfast in the Loop" Program Reaches More Students

(St. Petersburg Times, October 10, 2007)

Chasco Elementary's (Fla.) "Breakfast in the Loop" program features four breakfast carts placed strategically throughout the campus and is offered free to all 715 students whether or not they qualify for the free or reduced-price meals program.  "I like the breakfasts here," said Mirandas Jones, a fifth grade student at the school. "I'm not really hungry when I first get up." Teachers report that the students are more focused, and the school has shown improved test scores. "This year we're serving about 470 to 500 for breakfast each day," said Beverly LoPata, the food and nutrition manager at the Chasco Elementary/Chasco Middle School campus. "That's a 25 percent increase from last year." Chasco Elementary was recently named the second-place winner of the Expanding Breakfast Award by the Dairy Council of Florida.

 8.Florez Hopes Schools Will Take Advantage of State Funding for Breakfast

(The Bakersfield Californian, October 11, 2007)

Calif. State Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) hopes to convince local school leaders to to implement school breakfast programs in a November meeting where he will inform them of available funding. "A healthy breakfast is key to a child's learning in our schools," said Florez. He singled out Sequoia Elementary School for its breakfast program. According to Sequioa's principal Hiedi Witcher, several hot and cold items are provided for children every morning, and it only takes about 15 minutes. Florez also proposed a Kids' Action Meal Council to give students an opportunity to participate.

9.  Wisconsin Hunger Summit Addresses Rise in Food Insecure Households

(Stevens Point Journal, October 8, 2007)

The Wisconsin Hunger Summit was held on October 4^th to discuss the rising number of families with food insecurity.  Hunger relief organizations from across the state, as well as state legislators, came together to discuss how to solve hunger issues. In Wisconsin, one in ten households face a shortage of food, according to the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium. In Portage County, 36 percent of families are thought to be food insecure. "This is a problem we can help to solve," said State Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point. "There are plenty of challenges that already face individuals and families, and if we can help to lift that burden from their shoulders, then we'll be so much the better."

10.  Minnesota Legislators Plan to Tackle Poverty

(Grand Rapids Herald-Review, October 1, 2007)

Twenty Minnesota legislators will split into small groups to visit all corners of the state from now until January 2008 to listen to those who live in poverty, as well as other residents, about the problems that they face. The legislators were urged to improve wages, as one participant pointed out that "someone working two full-time jobs should not have to struggle to make ends meet."  Other issues brought up during the listening sessions included affordable housing, transportation, and health care.

11.   Kentucky Introduces Pilot Project for WIC EBT 

(Marketwire, October 5, 2007)

CDP, Inc. has announced a two-year partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky WIC Program, and area retailers, to develop an online WIC EBT (Women, Infants & Children Electronic Benefits Transfer) System. The new OWE System (Online WIC EBT) will eliminate the paper coupons.  Participants will use a magnetic swipe card at checkout counters, which is anticipated to expedite their purchases and keep more accurate accounts of benefit balances.