The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) 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. FRAC Analysis: President’s Budget Falls Short of Investments Required Meeting Health, Education and Nutrition Needs of Vulnerable Americans
2. Administration’s Budget Plan Makes Income Inequality More Severe, Group Says
3. Presidents Bush’s Proposal to Extend Tax Cuts Criticized
4. White House Zeroes in on Eliminating Food Program for Seniors
5. California Governor Requests Federal Assistance to Deal with Losses from Recent Freeze
6. New York: Immigrants Eligible for Food Stamps Afraid of Seeking Government Help
7. Missouri House Approves Bills to Supplement Federal Food Stamps and to Provide Tax Cuts for Donations to Food Pantries
8. California: Santa Clara County Pilots Program to Decrease Wait Times for Food Stamps
9. Pennsylvania: New State Budget Aims at Getting More Students to Eat School Breakfast; Increases School Meals Reimbursement Rates
10. Wisconsin Governor Proposes More Funding for School Meal Programs
11. Vermont: Increase in Number of Students Eating Free School Meals in Windham County
12. California: One San Francisco School Reaps Success Among Teenage Students with Grab n’ Go Breakfast
13. Massachusetts: Convenient Bus Schedule Helps Increase School Breakfast Participation
14. District of Columbia: More Supermarkets Needed to Eliminate Disparity of Food Access
15. District of Columbia: Emergency Shelters Are Not Aware of Government Money to Serve Child and Adult Care Food or Fear Red Tape
16. Massachusetts: Study Reveals Disparity Between Needs and Income in Single Parent Families

1. FRAC Analysis: President’s Budget Falls Short of Investments Required Meeting Health, Education and Nutrition Needs of Vulnerable Americans

(“Nutrition Program Changes in the President's Budget,” frac.org, February 7, 2007)

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) released an analysis of the President’s FY 2008 budget proposals. The proposals fall far short of the investments required to meet the health, education and nutrition needs of America’s vulnerable families, children and elderly. While modest changes to program rules would add 98,000 people to the Food Stamp Program, other changes mean that 329,000 people in working families with children which are low-income but not receiving cash assistance would lose eligibility. The Administration’s budget would weaken the WIC program by reducing access and quality of services to low-income mothers, infants, and children who are nutritionally at risk. It also would eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program that provides nutrition assistance to more than 485,000 low-income elderly, children and mothers. In this Farm Bill reauthorization year, our nation’s families deserve a more significant commitment to address the nutrition needs of 35 million people in U.S. households facing a constant struggle against hunger, FRAC says. Congress should reject the negative changes and instead make new investments in the nutrition title of the 2007 Farm Bill to improve Food Stamp Program access and benefit levels.

http://www.frac.org/html/news/020707budget.html

2. Administration’s Budget Plan Makes Income Inequality More Severe, Group Says

(“Overview: Examining the Administration’s FY 2008 Budget,” cbpp.org, February 6, 2007)

The President’s budget proposal reveals his intention to promote fiscal responsibility and address growing inequality, but his budget would make both problems worse, argues the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). The proposed budget would “further increase income disparities by providing massive tax cuts for people at the pinnacle of society and weakening child care, food assistance, and other support for those at the bottom and the middle of the income scale,” the group says. “It would essentially further enrich the most well-off at other Americans’ expense,” argues the group. The CBPP analysis refers to Tax Policy Center’s estimates showing that people with incomes of more than $1 million would get tax cuts averaging $162,000 a year (in 2012 dollars) in perpetuity.

http://www.cbpp.org/2-5-07bud.htm

Also see http://tinyurl.com/2astle (“The Bush Administration’s Fiscal Year 2007 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions” by Families USA)

3. President Bush’s Proposal to Extend Tax Cuts Criticized

(“Bush Plan Has Surplus in Its Sights,” dispatch.com, February 6, 2007)

In his new budget proposal, President Bush wants to extend tax cuts, many of which expire at the end of the decade. Democrats oppose this plan, saying that many tax reductions unfairly benefit the wealthy and will force Congress to cut social programs. Sen. Sherrod Brown is one of those who criticized the proposal. President “wants to make permanent tax giveaways to the nation’s richest 1 percent,” Brown said. “It is immoral to give $150,000 in tax breaks to a multimillionaire while a full-time worker struggles to subsist on food stamps,” the senator stated.

http://tinyurl.com/yrrz3s

Also see http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6820 (“Jewish Groups Urge Budget Fight,” jta.org, February 6, 2007)

4. White House Zeroes in on Eliminating Food Program for Seniors

(“Bush Wants to Cut Minn. Seniors’ Food Program,” wcco.com, February 5, 2007)

President Bush’s budget proposal would eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Congress rejected President’s last attempt to get rid of the program that distributes food to about a half million low-income people each month. The program is available in 32 states and the District of Columbia. The Administration has resumed its attempts, insisting that CSFP duplicates the two largest federal nutrition assistance programs – food stamps and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The proposed budget would provide temporary benefits to CSFP recipients to help them transition to food stamps. Various food programs do not duplicate each other, said Frank Kubik, president of the National CSFP Association. “They’re meant to work together. They’re pieces of resources that people need to get through the month,” he said. “Eliminating CSFP will leave many of our poor and elderly Americans out in the cold without access to a nutritious food source,” said Sen. Norm Coleman from Minnesota that has 14,000 program participants.

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_036141201.html

Also see http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/02/07/opinion/editorial/00edit07.txt
(“Let’s Be Careful About Cutting Programs That Fight Poverty,” lacrossetribune.com, February 6, 2007)

5. California Governor Requests Federal Assistance to Deal with Losses from Recent Freeze

(“Governor Schwarzenegger Requests Major Disaster Declaration from President Bush,” oes.ca.gov, February 7, 2007)

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to President Bush, requesting the declaration of a major disaster for 31 state counties that suffered devastating losses due to the extreme cold weather last month. Thousands of farmworkers and their families lost their jobs and income. The governor defined the situation as “of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state.” He requested federal Unemployment Assistance, Food Coupons and Distribution, Food Commodities and other help. He also revealed his intention to request assistance under the low-income migrant and seasonal farmworker grant program that addresses needs of people who don’t qualify for the above mentioned programs. Food banks in affected areas are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking food assistance. They estimate the freeze will increase emergency food needs over the next twelve months. The governor established 20 one-stop assistance centers in the most heavily affected areas, which provide consultation, program application and referrals to available services.

http://tinyurl.com/32on9b

6. New York: Immigrants Eligible for Food Stamps Afraid of Seeking Government Help

(“Immigrants Shy from Food Stamps: Report,” queenstribune.com, February 2, 2007)

“New York City should be leading the nation in increasing Food Stamp participation,” stated Nicole Christiansen of anti-poverty group FoodChange. But nearly 70,000 eligible immigrants living in the borough of Queens in New York City do not participate in the Food Stamp program, according to a report by FoodChange and the New York City Council. The study refers to a lack of awareness and common misconceptions as chief reasons for underparticipation. “They’re afraid of being deported for any reason,” said Sandy Moya of the Woodside Family Development Center. To get the word out among immigrant communities, Moya says it is important to establish the idea that programs like food stamps are only designed to help. The City Council is trying to encourage participation in food stamps. Its efforts include the “Food Today, Healthy Tomorrow” initiative that the council began last September. “The problem of hunger in New York City is a problem that every New Yorker should care about,” said Councilman Eric Gioia.

http://www.queenstribune.com/news/1170434631.html

7. Missouri House Approves Bills to Supplement Federal Food Stamps and to Provide Tax Cuts for Donations to Food Pantries

(“House Approves Tax Breaks for Food Pantry Donors,” myfoxstl.com, February 7, 2007)

The Missouri House of Representatives gave first-round approval to a supplement to the national Food Stamp Program. The supplement would provide $30 in monthly food stamp benefits for an individual and $60 a month for a couple, ages 65 and over. The House also approved tax breaks for people who donate to food pantries. The goal of the $2 million program is to boost donations to food pantries. The tax benefits would be capped at $1,200 per taxpayer, with each credit worth half the value of the food or monetary donation. Critics say food pantries in cities and suburbs will benefit more than those in rural areas. Both bills are headed for the state Senate.

http://tinyurl.com/ynsd7x

8. California: Santa Clara County Pilots Program to Decrease Wait Times for Food Stamps

(“Homeless Food Stamps Program Decreases Wait Times,” cbs5.com, February 6, 2007)

In California, Santa Clara County officials have initiated a pilot program to decrease wait times for food stamp benefits for homeless people and the working poor in their county. “The current application process for food stamps does not work for everyone,'” said Donald Gage of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. For the homeless individuals, the county canceled in-person visits and phone interviews. It will help to reduce the wait time from four to six weeks down to three days, said county spokeswoman Gwen Mitchell. Low-income families can expect a decrease in wait time from six or four weeks down to three weeks, Mitchell said. “Food stamps are a critical support for working poor families trying to make ends meet in our high-cost county,” said Will Lighbourne of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. “We will be carefully monitoring this project and hope to be able to expand it further at an appropriate time.” According to the last state of the county address, the income needed for a two-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara County is $52,000 a year, for which a minimum wage worker would have to work 148 hours a week.

http://tinyurl.com/22zsac

9. Pennsylvania: New State Budget Aims at Getting More Students to Eat School Breakfast; Increases School Meals Reimbursement Rates

(“With New Budget, PA Governor Rendell Says New Investments in Public Education Will Put More Children in Pre-K, Full-Day Kindergarten,” prnewswire.com, February 6, 2007)

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced a new school breakfast initiative among his plans for increased investments in education. The governor’s 2007-08 budget will provide the first increase in school breakfast and lunch reimbursement rates in seven years for all districts that agree to meet higher nutritional standards for school meals. All schools with at least 20 percent of students, eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, will be expected to offer breakfast. In order to improve health of Pennsylvania children, the governor plans to invest $6.5 million to ensure that more students have access to school breakfast and improve the nutritional quality of food sold in cafeterias and vending machines. Also, the new budget will help more than 11,000 Pennsylvania children attend quality pre-K programs and 65 percent of all eligible students attend full-day kindergarten.

http://tinyurl.com/2fk7q2

Also see http://www.pahunger.org/ (Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center)

10. Wisconsin Governor Proposes More Funding for School Meal Programs

(“Breakfast Program May Be on Tap for Schools,” postcrescent.com, February 4, 2007)

In Madison, Wis., Hilbert is one of schools that doesn’t offer a school breakfast program. But it is about to change. “I’d like us to do whatever we can to help these kids out,” said Tony Sweere, the district’s administrator, by “giving them the opportunity to have breakfast in the morning because they can’t get it at home.” Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle proposed nearly tripling state funding for school nutrition programs to help schools like Hilbert. “It is absolutely unacceptable that Wisconsin is 50th in participation of the school breakfast program,” Doyle said. According to the governor’s office, fewer than half of Wisconsin schools that offer a school lunch program also offer a school breakfast program, while the national average is almost 80 percent. Doyle proposes more state funding to encourage more schools to participate. “We are actually turning away millions of dollars in federal money by not participating in the school breakfast program because most of this is federal money that comes to the state,” he explained. The governor said Wisconsin should catch up to the rest of the country.

http://tinyurl.com/yw8ehx

11. Vermont: Increase in Number of Students Eating Free School Meals in Windham County

(“Poverty Rises in County,” reformer.com, February 3, 2007)

About 29 percent of Vermont students receive free or reduced-price meals at school, according to a report by the Vermont Department of Education. Although this statewide rate has been the same for two years, many Windham County schools saw a significant increase in students applying for free or reduced-price meals. “Kids in poverty come to school with needs that have to be addressed,” said Paul Smith, curriculum coordinator of the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union. Having more children using school meals programs means more children are getting some of their nutritional needs met, explained Joanne Heidkamp of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. “If more kids are getting some of their meals at school, it means one of the safety nets is catching people,” Heidkamp said.

http://www.reformer.com/headlines/ci_5150194

12. California: One San Francisco School Reaps Success Among Teenage Students with Grab n’ Go Breakfast

(“School Beat: Got Breakfast? Grab n Go Triples Participation at Balboa High School,” beyondchron.org, February 8, 2007)

San Francisco’s Balboa High School has increased school breakfast participation among teenagers with its Grab n’ Go breakfast program, writes Dana Woldow of the SFUSD Student Nutrition and Physical Activity. The program is in its second year. Students are allowed to arrive in the cafeteria as late as five minutes before the 8:20 start time for school, grab the pre-bagged breakfast, and eat their breakfast in the first ten minutes of class time in the classroom. The sit-down breakfast would require students to arrive 20-30 minutes early. Woldow writes that in the last year of sit down cafeteria breakfast, an average of about 80 students ate the school meal each day. The Grab n’ Go service resulted in 165 students having breakfast. By the fourth day of Grab n’ Go options made available in the lobby, 256 students ate the morning meal, three times the number of those who ate the regular breakfast 2 years ago. Currently, the school is offering breakfast for free to all students. Woldow stresses that research links eating breakfast with improved students’ concentration, reductions in depression, anxiety and hyperactivity, and maintaining a healthy weight. The positive experience at Balboa has prompted other schools to start thinking about serving breakfast Grab n’ Go style, Woldow reports.

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4178

13. Massachusetts: Convenient Bus Schedule Helps Increase School Breakfast Participation

(“The Breakfast Club,” townonline.com, February 7, 2007)

The Dennis-Yarmouth (D-Y) Regional School District in Massachusetts has accomplished a 15 percent growth in participation in the school breakfast program. Between September and December, D-Y schools served 42,544 breakfasts, an increase of 4,357 over the same period in 2005. In the high school, more than 1,000 more breakfasts were served. The menu includes fresh fruits and juices, whole wheat muffins, yogurt, whole-grain cereals and milk every day. The district believes that timing is critical to a successful school breakfast program. “We have time to feed the kids because there’s time between when they get off the buses and the first bell,” said D-Y Food Services Coordinator Garth Petracca. Schools that do not have convenient bus schedules allow late students to bring breakfast to the classroom. Marsha Franklin of Ezra Baker Elementary School said, “All children have the opportunity to eat a healthy breakfast, no matter how late they arrive at school.”

http://www.townonline.com/barnstable/homepage/8998948837984829439

14. District of Columbia: More Supermarkets Needed to Eliminate Disparity of Food Access

(“More Supermarkets in D.C.,” washtimes.com, February 3, 2007)

“Providing people in all neighborhoods with access to food is just one way we can end hunger and improve nutrition in the District,” writes Alexandra Ashbrook of D.C. Hunger Solutions in her letter to the editor of The Washington (D.C.) Times. “The story, ‘Grocery stores galore on tap’ (Page 1, Jan. 24), underlines the disparity of food access in the metropolitan area .… [In the District of Columbia] Ward 7 has just two supermarkets — one store for every 32,700 people — while Ward 8 has none,” Ashbrook points out. “We hope that Mayor Adrian Fenty makes food access a priority in his new administration — including fresh fruits and vegetables — from a variety of sources.”
More supermarkets in underserved areas, corner stores that sell fruits and vegetables, and farmers selling their produce at farmers’ markets will help improve access to food in the nation’s capital.

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20070202-084504-3636r_page2.htm (Please scroll down to see this article.)

15. District of Columbia: Emergency Shelters Are Not Aware of Government Money to Serve Child and Adult Care Food or Fear Red Tape

(“Money to Feed Homeless Children Going Unspent,” streetsense.org, February, 2007)

The District of Columbia is missing out on grant money from the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide healthy meals and snacks to children in emergency shelters, including homeless, domestic violence and family shelters. According to D.C. Hunger Solutions, a project of the Food Research and Action Center, CACFP received about $3 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2005. Many shelters did not apply for funding because of confusion about the application process, lack of government outreach, red tape and fragmentation of homeless services. Cynthia Bell of Nutrition Services for the D.C. State Education Office pointed out the need for additional outreach to encourage more participation in CACFP. “The plan is to look at existing coalitions that already focus on homeless issues and either become part of the coalitions or begin dialogue or discussion with them,” Bell said.

http://www.streetsense.org/articles/article_0202kidsfood.jsp

16. Massachusetts: Study Reveals Disparity Between Needs and Income in Single Parent Families

(“Study Sees Disparity in Needs Vs. Income,” masslive.com, February 2, 2007)

A single parent living in Greater Springfield, Mass., with a pre-schooler and a school-age child would have to make three times the state minimum wage of $7.50 an hour just to get by without grants, subsidies or other assistance, according to Boston-based Crittenton Women’s Union. The group’s Self-Sufficiency Standard study showed that the median income for single mothers with children in Massachusetts was $33,097 last year, much less than $46,573 needed to meet basic needs in the area. According to group’s President Elisabeth D. Babcock, since the last study in 2003, the cost of child care in Greater Springfield went up 28 percent, to $1,207 for two children. The monthly cost of health insurance jumped more than 50 percent, from $209 in 2003 to $321 last year. Single parents “have subsidies for housing, food stamps and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program). That’s probably how they’re getting by,” said Kathleen A. Treglia of the YMCA of Greater Springfield.

http://tinyurl.com/27eb5y

Also see http://www.liveworkthrive.org/reports.php (report, “2006 Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Standard”)

For news tips, suggestions, comments, contact Olga Doty at odoty@frac.org