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.
Issue 19, June 6, 2007
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FRAC News Digest
- FRAC Releases 2007 State of the States, Calls On Congress to Seize Opportunities to Improve and Strengthen Federal Nutrition Programs
- USDA Report Highlights Household Hardships In Meeting Food Needs
- Expanding Food Stamp Program Key For Farm Bill
- Missouri/Kansas: Poverty’s spread strains area school districts
- Texas: HISD Provides Free Meals For Students
- Arizona: Summer food program offered
- New Mexico: Food stamp rolls bursting
- Pennsylvania: In Market, Hopes for Health and Urban Renewal
- Alabama and Mississippi criticized for taxes on food
- Grants Available from the Great American Bake Sale
1. FRAC Releases 2007 State of the States, Calls On Congress to Seize Opportunities to Improve and Strengthen Federal Nutrition Programs
(frac.org, June 4, 2007)
Federal nutrition programs continue to reach millions of Americans who face a constant struggle against hunger, yet many millions of others with great need still slip through the nation’s nutrition safety net. This continuing shortfall should spur Congress to seize opportunities, particularly this year’s reauthorization of the Farm Bill, to make a stronger investment in federal nutrition programs, according to the Food Research and Action Center’s 2007 State of the States.
FRAC’s annual State of the States provides a comprehensive snapshot of hunger, poverty, and use of federal nutrition programs nationally and in each state. The report includes detailed information on the extent of hunger, participation in eight federal nutrition programs, and economic data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
State coverage:
California | Colorado | Delaware | Michigan | Ohio
2. USDA Report Highlights Household Hardships In Meeting Food Needs
(U.S. Department of Agriculture, June 2007)
The USDA reports that 12.6 million U.S. households, which make up 11 percent of the nation’s households, were unable to meet basic food needs at some time during 2005. Of this 11 percent, 3.9 percent of households had very low levels of food security to the extent that normal eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted at times during the year and a reduced food intake was prevalent. Food insecurity is higher than the national average in households with children (15.6 percent) and measures 30.8 percent, or nearly three times greater than the national average, in households with children headed by a single woman. Households with poverty-level incomes have a food insecurity rate of 30 percent. Food insecurity, while related to household income, is also impacted by the national poverty rate. According to the report, this research provides a reliable measure of households’ access to adequate food and hardships they face in meeting basic food needs.
3. Expanding Food Stamp Program Key For Farm Bill
(CongressDaily subscription needed, June 5, 2007)
On National Hunger Awareness Day (June 5), Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin stressed the importance of easing eligibility rules and raising benefits in the Food Stamp Program as part of the next Farm Bill. Harkin said that these issues must be addressed before the Farm Bill can pass through Congress. The Agriculture Department also announced that 65 percent of individuals who were eligible for food stamps in 2005 participated in the program, which is up from 54 percent in 2001. James Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, said he is encouraged by efforts that have increased the number of food stamp recipients from 17 million in 2000 to about 26 million today, but he notes that there are still millions of Americans going hungry each day.
4. Missouri/Kansas: Poverty’s spread strains area school districts
(The Kansas City Star, May 30, 2007)
The Kansas City, Mo. and Kansas City, Kan. school districts are experiencing a large increase in the number of students living in low-income households. Suburban schools near the urban core are also experiencing the effects of poverty. Eighty percent of students in these districts were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches in 2006. According to Brian Mitchell, associate superintendent for the Independence School District, schools are becoming more aggressive in signing up eligible students for free- or reduced-price lunches. As the number of low-income households climb, Kansas City school districts worry about funding that is supposed to come from property taxes collected from businesses. However, many area businesses have received tax breaks to encourage economic development, which has put further strain on these schools.
5. Texas: HISD Provides Free Meals For Students
(Click2Houston.com, May 30, 2007 )
The Houston Independent School District announced the start of its summer meals program, which will last through June 29. The district plans to provide a free breakfast and a free lunch to students in more than 200 schools. The summer lunch program began May 31 and lasts through June 29. The program is offered Monday through Friday, and adults may also receive meals at a cost of $1.70 for breakfast and $2.95 for lunch.
6. Arizona: Summer food program offered
(The Wickenburg Sun, May 30, 2007)
The Wickenburg Unified School District in Arizona will provide free breakfast and lunch for all children 18 years old or younger. The program, sponsored through funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Arizona Department of Education, will operate weekdays from June 4 to June 29. Adults may also participate with a fee of $1.50 for breakfast and $3.00 for lunch.
7. New Mexico: Food stamp rolls bursting
(The Santa Fe New Mexican, May 28, 2007)
Nearly 18,000 more families receive food stamps in New Mexico than they did in 2003. This is good news for a state that had been ranked first in the nation for food insecurity by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in November 2006. State officials have been working to change that by confronting misconceptions about food stamps and taking out advertisements in English, Spanish and Navajo languages to promote the Food Stamp Program. They have also increased the minimum food stamp allotment for seniors from $10 to $20 as a result of a bill the governor signed into law. The Food Stamp Program is expected to bring $280 million to New Mexico’s economy in 2007, which is up $24 million from last year. Every $5 spent on food stamps in New Mexico creates $9.20 in economic activity for local communities according to the state’s Human Services Department.
8. Pennsylvania: In Market, Hopes for Health and Urban Renewal
(The New York Times, May 25, 2007)
Residents of North Philadelphia are getting a new grocery store after being left without one since the last supermarket closed in 1999. For the past eight years, residents have had to travel far distances to the nearest grocery store. This has been a challenge for those without access to cars. Many have been forced to rely on fast-food restaurants, which is the closest option for food. The grocery store is part of the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which has developed two dozen supermarkets in deprived urban and rural areas of Pennsylvania.
9. Alabama and Mississippi criticized for taxes on food
(The Clarion Ledger, April 30, 2007)
State officials say that about $1.5 billion in public benefits, from tax credits to food stamps, goes unclaimed by eligible Ohioans every year. Ralph Gildehaus, director of the Ohio Benefit Bank, said many people aren't aware they qualify for help; others are turned off by exhaustive paperwork, confusing terminology, long lines at public agencies or the prospect of visiting multiple offices to assemble needed benefits. Gov. Ted Strickland and Gildehaus recently visited the Cleveland Foodbank for the local launch of the Benefit Bank, a free, web-based program to help people apply for an array of assistance, file tax returns and even register to vote. In the eight states, plus the District of Columbia, where the Benefit Bank now operates, counselors identified an average $6,450 more in annual benefits for each client. The association of 12 food banks, including those in Northeast Ohio, is helping to implement the Benefit Bank statewide. Begun in Ohio last fall as a pilot program, it already has linked people to more than $4.5 million in assistance, Gildehaus said.
10. Grants Available from the Great American Bake Sale
(Share Our Strength, May 2007)
Share Our Strength will be accepting grant applications for this year's Great American Bake Sale grant making campaign through July 13th. Grant applications will be accepted from current sponsors of summer and afterschool meal programs for children that utilize USDA-reimbursement and organizations that increase participation through advocacy and outreach. The Great American Bake Sale is sponsored by Share Our Strength and urges participants to bake, sell and send in their earnings to be given to anti-hunger groups.
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