Foundation Journal

While the "Moral Mondays" movement in North Carolina may not list the renewal of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP or Food Stamps) as one of the group's concerns you can bet this group would press for removing cuts to the Federal food assistance programs. Hunger advocates who advocate for full funding of the SNAP program in the Farm Bill may benefit by taking a page from the Moral Mondays movement, which has been making lots of noise. National and state legislators like those in North Carolina, Kansas and Missouri have reacted so severely to programs that provide services for low-income and poor people that many could lose unemployment benefits, health services, or food assistance. One way you can make a difference is to press your U.S. representative or senator to fully-fund the SNAP program. With legislators back in their home districts there may be opportunity to meet in-person with the legislators. Brett Weisel, Director for Advocacy ...

Image of Google Map showing Vineyard Estates neighborhood The Vineyard Estates neighborhood on the east side of Kansas City, where the Harvesters food bank is located, reached its goal of pre-registering 10% of the residents for the Google Fiber service, along with 179 other KCK and Kansas City, Missouri neighborhood . The Google Fiber plans for residential locations range from $70 for high-speed Internet service to $120 for Internet plus cable TV per month. Since Harvesters is a business it will not eligible to be connected for service, according to the terms of service. And Google has not defined subscription rates for businesses yet. However, since Harvesters is a community organization it's likely to be wired along with "libraries, schools and community buildings in qualified fiberhoods," as stated in a Google report on the conclusion of the pre-registration effort. Harvesters is one of over 200 food banks in a nationwide network of food banks represented by F...

During a workshop at a food bank conference held October 3-5, 2011 in Chicago, David Lee, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy with Feeding America , acknowledged a “perfect storm” is brewing that could have a devastating impact on poor and working families. He was referring to the combination of continued, high unemployment, a significant increase in the need for food assistance, and proposed cuts in Federal support for food assistance programs. David Lee (photo: Feeding America) The proposed cuts to TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) in the agriculture appropriations bill for FY2012, which starts October 1,  represent a 43% reduction from the previous year. “This is terrifying stuff,” mentioned Lee . The proposed House of Representatives version of the 2012 Farm Bill “slashed nutrition” by 20%,  he said, adding that this includes a “terrible, terrible cut to WIC,” the popular program available to lower-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, ...

From left: Jono Anzalone with FEMA and Karen Haren, with Harvesters. A press conference was held at Harvesters food bank in Kansas City on Thursday, May 26, 2011 with Jono Anzalone, Regional Voluntary Agency Liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Margaret Larson, Disaster Services Specialist with the Feeding America, and Karen Haren, president of Harvesters. At least two television stations and a reporter with the Kansas City Star were in attendance. Anzalone emphasized the importance of working through designated agencies like Harvesters to deliver assistance most effectively. He stated that 6000 people have registered to volunteer at Missouri Southern State University, the Joplin tornado relief coordination site. The influx of concerned people was straining the resources of the very community that was dealing with devastation from the tornado. He further encouraged people to donate money to organizations designated by the state of Missour i  or regis...

There is an urgent need for disaster relief for victims of the Joplin tornado that struck Sunday, May 22, resulting over 116 deaths. Currently Harvesters is preparing a delivery of bottled water. Harvesters is working with Feeding America, the national network of food banks, and the Missouri Food Bank Association, both of which focus on disaster relief, when needed. Harvesters food bank in Kansas City works through the state emergency management agency, collecting and distributing food and supplies as requested.

Realm of the report is on a definition of food security based on the number of postitive responses to indicators of frequency of food consumption, affordability, quality, and quantity. Report reflects well-known demographics, specifically much higher prevalence of food insecurity among single women head of households (with children), Blacks, Hispanics, and in southern states. Statistics sometimes mask a true understanding by removing personal stories. USDA report taken with Feeding American's Hunger Study show common characteristics. Missouri rank in food insecurity has drastically increased in recent years, as has Kansas. This despite Missouri leading place of those applications for SNAP that are elgible. Immersed in Feeding America statistics showing 3 billion pounds of food distributed per year through the network of 200 US food banks. USDA shows 2.88 bill pounds distributed in 2000. TEFAP commondity accounts for 14% of food distributed through pantries. SNAP assists...

Shanta Bailey, the new SNAP Outreach Coordinator with Harvesters food bank , presented to area food pantries on the benefits and elgibility of Food Stamps for area residents at a "Feeding More, Feeding Better" conference in downtown Kansas City. She will be working with food assistance agencies to increase applications for SNAP benefits, which was renamed to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from Food Stamps in 2008 to reflect focus on nutrition. Shanta Bailey, new SNAP Outreach Coordinator with Harvesters food bank in Kansas City, Missouri. Shanta's energy and enthusiasm captivated the 50 food pantry representatives and volunteers in the audience, especially when she shared her passion for "empowering our clients" as the principle motivation for her work. She added, "this is about empowerment, this is about knowledge" after discussing myths of SNAP held by eligible residents. She provided an update to the newly emphasized effort led by ...

Time and time again supporters of food assistance programs emphasize the contradiction between growing hunger in the US and vast financial wealth and food resources. Civic, government, and business leaders made comments about this disparity at the official opening of a large Harvesters food bank warehouse today in Topeka serving sixteen counties in eastern Kansas. “Here, in the breadbasket of the most affluent country in the world, we have a substantial number of people who are food insecure,” Kansas First Lady Stacy Parkinson said . “That is just unacceptable.” Civic leaders cut ribbon recognizing the official opening of Harvesters' second food warehouse in Topeka. Douglas Kinsinger with the Topeka Chamber of Commerce asked "What else can we do" to solve this problem but to support food banks and feeding programs. There's no shortage of ideas and action at a local level. One common approach to hunger relief is providing resources for neighbors in nee...

Lance Morgan , the keynote speaker on October 7, 2010 during Feeding America's Central Region food bank conference in Omaha, outlined the economic development success on the Winnebago reservation. He stressed how Ho-Chunk Inc. and other businesses on the reservation transformed a community with 65% unemployment and widespread alcoholism into a "rural economic miracle." Morgan described how Ho-Chunk and other enterprises have not only contributed significantly to tribal programs, but offer a different approach to economic development, such as through it's low loan rates for rez cars and houses. The low rates have driven out predatory lenders for cars, a loan policy which has devastated many low income workers. This approach provided borrowers with the means to maintain jobs and "changed the landscape and what's possible in our world," Morgan stated. "It changed the whole dynamic within our community. Lance Morgan, speaking at Feedin...

Gary Rodkin, President and CEO of ConAgra, a leading US food manufacturer, gave a presentation labeled the "Politics of Food" at the Central Region Feeding America Conference on October 6 in Omaha, Nebraska. During the keynote address to attendees he acknowledged understanding "it's tough out there" for people seeking services and jobs, but also pointed out it's tough from a retail business standpoint. His talk focused on ConAgra's signficant contributions to food assistance organizations like Feeding America, but included some surprising comments that seemed at odds with the direction of US food banks. For background he explained ConAgra's roots going back to 1867, operating the largest flour milling operation. It's now a Fortune 200 company with 20,000 workers. It's products are found in 97% of US households.One-third of ConAgra's business is with commercial businesses, like milling for Pizza Hut. It's the largest potato produ...

“Lost your job” and “you make too much money for social security.” These are some of the comments I heard over the cubicle wall as Julie interviewed a client for the Hunger in America study today at the Samaritan Center in Clinton, Missouri. A woman was elaborating on her situation during some of the questions about her household’s income, food, and health condition. The woman was frustrated with her situation “trying to get disability insurance and wasted a lot of time and money in Warrensburg and Kansas City.” The building is an old single story building in the older part of Clinton with patterned-covered wallboard and a drop ceiling. Clients are able to visit the pantry once a month. They come in and schedule the next month’s visit, then go through the pantry. Conducting interviews involves a fair amount of waiting as clients come through for food. A random sample selects every fourth client today based on the estimate of the number of people seeking food. The goal is to get 10-...