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.

1. Promotion Brings Food Stamp Information Via Mobile Van
(MyCentralJersey.com, December 23, 2008)

Somerset County’s Board of Social Services is promoting the Food Stamp Program during the economy crisis via a mobile outreach van, as well as making food stamp applications easier to access by offering them at locations outside of its offices and encouraging online applications. And, soon residents will be able to apply over the phone. The mobile food stamp application office is a joint effort of state agencies, Essex County and ShopRite grocery stores, which is underwriting the vehicle’s operating expenses. The mobile unit is equipped with interview rooms, internet access, computers, fax machines and phones and travels to other counties; people can apply for food stamps directly in the unit. The effort is paying off, according to social services director Joseph Kunzmann, who noted “The number of people we actually saw was significant” after the mobile office visited one ShopRite. “The plan is to replicate this as often as we can,” said Kunzmann.

2. Florida Program Helps Hispanics Access Federal Food Aid
(South Florida Sun-Sentinel, December 26, 2008)

Hispanic Unity of Florida began a program titled “Comida = Fuerza” (“Food = Strength”) in November to bring federal food aid information to Hispanics and help them apply for benefits. Broward County’s 2007 Food Security Survey found that more than half of low-income Hispanic families with children in the county experience hunger – more than any other ethnic group surveyed. Grants totaling $200,000 from USDA and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County help pay for the program, which aims to battle language barriers and lack of Internet access which keep eligible Hispanics from receiving food assistance. So far, the program has given 250 presentations in Spanish and screened more than 150 people for food stamps.

3. States and Counties See Surges in Food Stamp Application

Texas – A double whammy of hurricanes and the dismal economy is forcing record numbers of Houstonians and Harris County residents to apply for food stamps. According to Carolyn Maxie of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, many of the families who found they were eligible for food stamps after Hurricane Ike have returned for more help. In September, more than 400,000 Houstonians applied for food stamps, distributed through the “LoneStar card,” a 30 percent increase from September 2007. Close to 3 million Texans applied for food stamps in September, an increase of 300,000 from August. (MyFoxHouston, December 16, 2008)

In El Paso County, the number of food stamp recipients rose by 11 percent from August to December according to Celia Hagert of the Center for Public Policy Priorities. Now, slightly more than one-fourth of El Paso residents – 159,808 people - received food stamps in December, compared with 143,923 in August. “Texas ranks 47th in the nation in the number of food-secure families, meaning we have more people wondering where their next meal will come from than almost any other state,” said Hagert, who said the number will increase as the recession deepens. “We need to shore up the food stamp program to keep more families from going hungry during this crisis,” she noted. (El Paso Times, December 22, 2008)

Washington – Nearly 328,000 households – or 643,000 individuals, 267,000 of which are children – received food stamps in November, the second consecutive month of record numbers. While new rules increased the number of residents eligible for the benefit (called Basic Food in the state) by lifting the income threshold, the economy is playing a part in raising numbers. “Generally speaking, food stamp participation tracks unemployment pretty tightly,” said Linda Stone with the Children’s Alliance. “But we do know there were a lot of folks whose income was just above the threshold, so those folks are (now) probably receiving benefits.” The state Department of Social and Health Services is also promoting food stamps through outreach efforts at food banks, community action councils, and other organizations. The change in threshold also means that children who previously qualified for reduced-price lunch may now be eligible for free lunch. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 17, 2008)

Georgia – An increased number of food stamp applicants has moved the state to making the application process easier through the Web site titled “Common Point of Access to Social Services” at www.compass.ga.gov. “It really kind of serves as your one-stop shopping point…for social services,” said Taka Wiley of the state’s Department of Human Resources. On the site, residents can check their eligibility and apply online. In time, Medicaid, child care, WIC, energy assistance and other benefits will be available through the site. Georgia’s increased use of food stamps has been noticed by the Food Lion grocery chain. According to Food Lion spokeswoman Karen Peterson, “We’re in 11 states, and Georgia is definitely one of the highest (in food stamp usage.)” (Augusta Chronicle, December 26, 2008)

4. San Diego Initiative Aims to Increase Food Stamp Participation
(San Diego Union-Tribune, December 21, 2008)

In order to combat low food stamp participation in San Diego County – only 29 percent of eligible residents receive the benefit according to FRAC – San Diego Unified School District board member Richard Barrera proposed a partnership to get more families signed up for the benefit. A joint effort of the district and county officials, the measure (passed December 9 unanimously) directs Superintendent Terry Grier to “develop an aggressive and proactive strategy” to sign up as many families as possible, although specific details of a plan have not been announced. This is the first official county policy aimed at increasing numbers, which have been low because of application barriers – which range from having to apply in person, multiple visits to complete applications, fingerprinting rules, and home searches – that keep many from accessing benefits. The San Diego Hunger Coalition and other groups have tried to raise participation rates for several years, noting that food stamps would help needy people and inject $100 million or more into the local economy. The Coalition’s food stamp outreach coordinator, Jennifer Tracy, is excited about the city schools-county partnership.

5. Chicago Community Center Receives Hunger Champion Award
(Daily Herald, December 18, 2008)

USDA named the Lake County Family Community Resource Center in Park City, Ill. as a 2008 Hunger Champion Mentor, the first agency in the state to receive the award since its inception in 2006. In addition to the Center’s partnerships with community groups which increase low-income residents’ access to food stamps, the award also cites its Spanish and Russian language case worker outreach. The Hunger Champion awards go to Department of Human Services offices “that perform outstanding community service in administering food stamps” (now called SNAP).

6. Many Eligible Nevada Residents Don’t Receive Food Stamps
(KOLO, December 23, 2008)

Close to half of eligible Nevada residents don’t receive food stamps, according to Cherie Jamason of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Jamason noted “We’re leaving about $150 million…on the table in resources that you and I already paid for in our income taxes.” Many don’t realize they’re eligible, noted Jamason during a taping of the public affairs program “It’s Not Just Politics,” and many don’t have information on the program. Also, the application can overwhelm some applicants “It would be nice to have it streamlined and more user friendly,” said Jamason.

7. Michigan Seniors and Disabled Adults Have New Source of Federal Food Aid
(WZZM, December 18, 2008)

MiCAP is a new federally-funded pilot program in Michigan which will allow SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients to receive $60 to $100 in food assistance each month. “It’s a huge announcement for seniors and people who are disabled or who are on Social Security,” said Ismael Ahmed, director of the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). The program will help about 80,000 with their food budgets. A computer matching system will compare the lists of people receiving Social Security and those receiving food stamps. Any SSI recipients found to be eligible for food stamps won’t have to fill out an application to receive the payments, noted Ahmed, as the program is automatic and will show up as a $60 to $100 “bridge card” in the mail. Nutrition is vitally important for these two populations that already suffer from diabetes, heart problems, etc. And the program will make a huge difference to seniors who may be embarrassed or intimidated to ask for help, according to Sharon Gire, director of the state’s Office of Services to the Aging.

8. Ohio School Starts Breakfast Program
(Urbana Daily, December 16, 2008)

An elementary school in St. Paris, Ohio will be the pilot site for school breakfast according to Graham School Superintendent Jim Zerkle. “We’ll start at the elementary, but I think it has the potential to make money at the high school. A lot of students come in early at 7 a.m. and have to sit in the cafeteria before classes start anyway,” noted Zerkle. The three-tiered breakfast system, based on eligibility for free- and reduced-price lunch, will help feed those students who ride the bus too early to get a meal at home, said one school board member. Possible stigma will be removed through the use of personal identification numbers that students will use to pay for the meal. The need is pronounced, said Zerkle: “The number of economically disadvantaged kids has grown in our district. It is essential that we at least try.”

9. Quarter of Alabama’s Children Suffer from Food Insecurity
(Montgomery Advertiser, December 21, 2008)

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count report, a quarter of all children under 18 in Alabama suffer from food insecurity. The percentage is made real by a number of stories:

10-year-old Elijah Peterson walks a mile down Mobile Highway to the Friendship Mission every night for dinner, and eats lunch and dinner there on the weekends. If he doesn’t eat at the shelter, he goes hungry, since his mother is in a wheelchair and doesn’t cook at home. Pastor Vincent Rosato at the shelter sees additional children, not just Elijah, though many of them don’t have a home or go from city to city with a parent. “It’s just something that most people in Montgomery are blind to,” said Rosato.

Jolene Kearns of the Montgomery Area Food Bank recalls three children, ages 4 to 9, in the back of a pickup truck who “literally dove into the bags of food placed near them” when they visited the food pantry. “These kids were famished,” she said. “Nobody knows how long they had gone without a real meal.”

After Hurricane Ivan destroyed their rental home in 2004, 9-year-old Genora Shackleford’s family lived in motels and ate once, “maybe twice a day.” After the last motel owner forgot to pay the water bill, the family of six lived in a van on and off for a year The family was finally able to get a two-bedroom house, but their limited income leaves them $75 short each month. Her 10-year-old sister Valencia said the hard part of being hungry is “not being able to function as a normal person. There was no energy.”

10. Oregon Bill Could Bring Local Food to School Meals
(East Oregonian, December 20, 2008)

A proposal in the state legislature – the 2009 Farm to School bill – asks for $22 million in funding to help bring local food to eastern Oregon schools and would add 15 cents to every lunch and 7 cents to every breakfast served in the state’s public schools. In order to participate, schools must buy Oregon-produced food, and must prove they spend an equal amount of federal school food funds on Oregon food. Currently, the state is one of a few in the nation that don’t supplement school meals with state funds. Advocates say the program will bring the state up to speed on reimbursement of school meals, and boost the state’s agricultural economy.

11. Iowa School Snow Days Could Leave Children Hungry
(WHO, December 15, 2008)

Hundreds of children who rely on school breakfasts and lunches could go hungry on a snow day when school is cancelled in Des Moines. “It’s a very difficult decision to make,” said Dr. Nancy Sebring, Des Moines superintendent. "We have hundreds of children who eat their breakfast and lunch at school and so it's a concern if we call off school. Will children get meals, both breakfast and lunch, or will they be going without?” While 5 a.m. is the deadline for districts to cancel or postpone classes, “The real action begins at about 3 in the morning,” when school facilities staff start monitoring weather conditions, according to Sebring.

12. Indiana’s Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Numbers Rising, Mirrors National Trend
(Muncie Star-Press, December 22, 2008)

Parents struggling with the recession are turning to school meals in increasing numbers to help feed their children. 30 million students were fed two years ago, and this year has seen an increase according to the School Nutrition Association. Indiana’s Randolph Eastern Schools saw the number of free and reduced-price lunches jump three percent, from 55 to 58 percent of students since the beginning of the school year, according to superintendent Cathy Stephen. While the numbers rose from 38 percent in 2001 to 54 percent in 2007, this year’s rise shows how badly the economy is affecting Hoosiers. The number of Muncie students receiving free or reduced-price lunch rose from 64.6 percent in October 2007 to 67.2 percent in October 2008.

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