Nutrition Consortium Blog

Half of US kids will get food stamps, study says

2009-11-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

By LINDSEY TANNER
The Associated PressMonday,
November 2, 2009 9:32 PM

CHICAGO -- Nearly half of all U.S. children and 90 percent of black youngsters will be on food stamps at some point during childhood, and fallout from the current recession could push those numbers even higher, researchers say.

The estimate comes from an analysis of 30 years of national data, and it bolsters other recent evidence on the pervasiveness of youngsters at economic risk. It suggests that almost everyone knows a family who has received food stamps, or will in the future, said lead author Mark Rank, a sociologist at Washington University in St. Louis.

"Your neighbor may be using some of these programs but it's not the kind of thing people want to talk about," Rank said.

The analysis was released Monday in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The authors say it's a medical issue pediatricians need to be aware of because children on food stamps are at risk for malnutrition and other ills linked with poverty.

To read more....

October 2009 Version of the Food Stamp Prescreening Guide Now Available

2009-10-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

The October 2009 version of "FOOD STAMPS IN NYS: An Eligibility Prescreening Guide" is now available.

This guide is designed for community based organizations, advocates and volunteers who are working with low-income households and want to:

determine if a household may potentially qualify for food stamp benefits,

help assist the household through the application process, and

determine an estimated food stamp benefit allotment.

To veiw or downloaded the guide from our website click here.

To order paper copies of the guide please contact Gail Cooney via e-mail at Gail.Cooney@nutritionconsortium.org or by calling 518-436-8757 x11. Please include the number of copies requested and the contact information for mailing.

Please be aware that we have a limited number of copies and will do our best to fill requests.

End Hunger 2015 Buttons

2009-10-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

Show your support for President Barack Obama's goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 with these three-inch buttons. These buttons were designed by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and are available in bundles of 50.

Price: $22.00
$5.00 additional charge for shipping
D.C. Residents add 5.75% sales tax.

For ordering information, click here.

2009 Summer Food Sponsor Directory Now Available

2009-10-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Nutrition Consortium of NYS' Summer Food Sponsor Directory is now available online.

All sponsors who operated open, closed-enrolled, and/or camp-sports program SFSP sites during summer 2009 are listed in this directory. Purposes of the directory are to support sponsors’ work by encouraging information sharing and collaboration amongst sponsors; as well as bring attention to their presence throughout their local communities.

To learn more about how to become a SFSP sponsor, how your organization can connect with your nearest sponsor to serve summer meals, and/or provide corrections to this directory, please contact Rachel Rupright @ (518) 463-8757 x21.

http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/09SFSponsorDirectory.pdf

AARP Encourages Older Adults to Sign Up for Food Stamps

2009-10-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

Millions of SNAP/Food Stamp dollars are going "untouched," as only 34 percent of eligible senior citizens have signed up for the program writes N. Joyce Payne, Ed.D. and a member of the AARP Board of Directors, in this op-ed.

Food assistance programs like SNAP/Food Stamps can improve the health of senior citizens with limited incomes, especially those living alone. Healthy people are more able to take care of their daily needs and "live independently." However, many older people have to make the choice between paying for groceries or medications.

"The most common reason people do not receive SNAP benefits is that they don't realize they may be eligible," notes Payne. A 2007 Census Bureau report found that an estimated 3.6 million seniors (aged 65 and over) live in poverty in the U.S.

But recent program enhancements mean that many more older New Yorkers (aged 60 and over) may be eligible for this monthly nutrition assistance.

Once a person’s application is approved, benefits automatically get loaded on a debit-style card which is accepted at most grocery stores; there are no hidden fees. The average monthly benefit for older Americans is $72 for individuals and $90 per household.

In addition to supporting healthier food options, SNAP also contributes economically to communities. The USDA says that every $5 in new SNAP benefits generates nearly twice as much ($9.20) in total community spending. "In these tough economic times, AARP remains staunchly committed to connecting those in need with information and access to programs, which offer real relief and assistance in navigating their basic life needs," concludes Payne. "We encourage all older Americans and those who care for them to learn more about Food Stamps/SNAP and apply if they're eligible."

And though SNAP is the federal name for the program, state programs may use SNAP or another program name to refer to this food assistance benefit. New York continues to use the "Food Stamp Program" name. Older New Yorkers can find more information and help with applying for food stamps in their county or receive information about other public benefits via AARP’s Benefits QuickLINK Web site at www.aarp.org/snap.

Sept 09 Child Nutrition e-News

2009-10-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

The September 2009 edition of Child Nutrition e-News is now available!

Child Nutrition e-News is a quarterly digest of research and reports related to the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Click here to view CN e-News from our website in pdf format.
Click here to sign-up and receive CN e-News directly via e-mail.

9/17/09 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Conference Call Materials Available

2009-09-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

On September 17, 2009, the Nutrition Consortium of NYS hosted a conference call about the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization of 2009. Callers heard the latest updates, program recommendations, and strategies for working with elected officials to support a strong Reauthorization bill.

Thank you to our presenters from the following organziations: Foodlink, Food Research and Action Center, Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project, NYS School Nutrition Association, NYS WIC Association, and Public Health Solutions.

Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the conference call!

To access the powerpoint complementary to the conference call, please go to:

http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/CNRConfCall9-17.pdf

Alternate Poverty Formula Doubles Senior Poverty Rate

2009-09-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

(Associated Press, September 4, 2009) The poverty rate among older Americans could be nearly twice as high as the traditional 10 percent level, according to a revision of a half-century-old formula for calculating medical costs and geographic variations in the cost of living.

The National Academy of Science's formula would put the poverty rate for Americans 65 and over at 18.6 percent, or 6.8 million people, compared with 9.7 percent, or 3.6 million people, under the current measure. The original government formula, created in 1955, doesn't take account of rising costs of medical care and other factors.

Senior citizens living in poverty is "a hidden problem," said Robin Talbert, president of the AARP Foundation. "There are still many millions of older people on the edge, who don't have what they need to get by."

Last year, New York City recognized that current poverty measure was a poor gauge of either the degree of economic deprivation in the City or the impact of programs intended to alleviate it. The City adopted the NAS numbers, as a realistic threshold of poverty, essentially doubling the number of seniors in poverty (from 18.1 percent to 32 percent). Albany officials plan to reveal revised state numbers next month.

The current calculation sets the poverty level at three times the annual cost of groceries. For a family of four that is $21,203. That calculation does not factor in rising medical, transportation, child care and housing expenses or geographical variations in living costs. Nor does the current formula consider noncash aid when calculating income, despite the recent expansion of food stamps and tax credits in the federal economic stimulus and other government programs. The result: The poverty rate for the overall population has varied little from its current 12.5 percent.
Nationally, official poverty rates for older Americans have improved significantly over the past 30 years due to expansions of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. But many older people with modest cash incomes would fall below the poverty line under the NAS formula due to out-of-pocket expenses from rising Medicare premiums, deductibles and a coverage gap in the prescription drug benefit that is known as the "doughnut hole."

Food Stamp Benefit Estimator Tools

2009-09-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Available now are excel tools updated with the new October 1, 2009 Food Stamp Program (FSP) standards and deductions. These tools help estimate a household’s potential food stamp benefit amount.

It is important to start using these new tools when working with households who are applying for food stamp benefits. This is because the new FSP standards change both the income guidelines and several deductions which affect the estimated food stamp benefit amount for a household.

click here to veiw the tools

“Back to School” Resources for Increasing Access to School Meals

2009-09-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Explore new “Back to School” resources to help schools conduct free and reduced-price meals application outreach, increase school breakfast participation, and operate at-risk afterschool snack and supper programs.

Please visit:

The Nutrition Consortium of NYS: http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/relatedtools.htm

The Food Research and Action Center: http://www.frac.org/back_to_school_resources_2009.htm

Upcoming Food Stamp Program Changes

2009-09-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

On October 1, 2009, Food Stamp Program standards and deductions--the measures used to determine the amount of food stamp benefits a household receives--will be adjusted. This adjustment happens annually, to reflect changes to the Federal Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLAs).

A new memo has been posted to the Nutrition Consortium website that highlights the changes in Food Stamp Program standards and deductions for October 1, 2009:

Click here to view the memo
Click here to view the October 1, 2009 Food Stamp Budget Worksheet

Warning for food stamp recipients

2009-09-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Just an FYI - this was a news headline from Rochester, NY:

Posted on: 08/28/2009 10:40 AM WHEC.com

There is a warning out today for food stamp clients. A statewide scam has made its way to Monroe County and food stamp recipients are told to take extra caution not to divulge their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account information or PIN numbers to anyone.

How the scam works: Food stamp clients are asked to call 1-877-301-7436 where an individual prompts the caller to have a credit card ready, since the transaction will cost $3.95. After being placed on hold, the caller is then asked to provide information which includes the caller's EBT debit card number and pin number. After giving the information, the caller is told that $1,000 will be added to their food stamp account and in addition to a monetary reward, some clients are being told they could also receive gift cards for retail stores or gas cards. Instead, clients receive no benefit and are at risk for their accounts to be emptied.

The County has reported its complaints and findings to the Attorney General.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.

Hunger-Free New York FIESTA!

2009-08-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Join the Nutrition Consortium of NYS on Thursday, September 24, 2009 for our first fundraising event at Mexican Radio in Hudson, NY. 25% of your bill will be donated to the Nutrition Consortium's Campaign for a Hunger-Free New York.

Click here to see the flyer for the event, created for us by our friends at Price Chopper!

http://www.mexrad.com/Events.htm

Child Hunger Alert: Save the Date! Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2009 Conference Call

2009-08-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, September 17 10:30am-11:45am

NYS Conference Call: Working Toward Ending Childhood Hunger
Opportunities in the 2009 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act

What: Conference call with a status report and updates on the 2009 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization

Who: YOU are invited! Please spread the word to anyone who may be interested. The call will be hosted by the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, in partnership with the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and other child nutrition advocates

When: Thursday, September 17th

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Why: The federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009 presents tremendous opportunities to strengthen and improve the federal child nutrition programs including the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

During this conference call, you will hear the latest updates, program recommendations, and strategies to work with elected officials in support of a strong Reauthorization bill.

To join this conference call...

Please RSVP by Thursday, 9/10 to Connie McIntyre at the Nutrition Consortium of NYS by phone: (518) 436-8757 x19 or e-mail: connie.mcintyre@nutritionconsortium.org
You will then receive a confirmation e-mail with call-in instructions.

Grants Available for Schools to Offer Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

2009-08-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Love Your Veggies Grant Program

The Love Your Veggies Grant Program, sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings, supports elementary school programs nationwide that increase student access to, and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in the lunchroom. The initiative will award $10,000 grants to ten elementary schools in order to help them develop a program offering fresh produce. The selected programs may be implemented as early as April 2010 and should last through the 2010-2011 school year. Funds may be used for any of the following: the purchase of fresh produce, a vegetable station (such as a salad bar), kitchen equipment, program staffing, nutrition education supplies, or food safety training. Online applications must be submitted by November 6, 2009. Detailed application guidelines are available on the Love Your Veggies website.

Further Information about the 2009 Back-to-School One-Time Payment

2009-08-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

For additional information about NYS' "Back-to-School One-Time Payment" to certain households with children that receive Temporary Assistance (TA) and/or Food Stamp Program (FSP) benefits, please see the following links:

Click here for a policy memo from NYS OTDA.

Click here for a memo from the Nutrition Consortium of NYS to
community-based organizations.

Click here for the Nutrition Consortium of NYS' previous blog posts about
the "Back-to-School One-Time Payment".

Summer Food Celebration Press Release

2009-08-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Casey Dinkin, Nutrition Consortium of NYS, (518) 229-8845

EVENT AT FREE MEAL SITE FOR ALBANY CHILDREN HIGHLIGHTS UPCOMING NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD HUNGER

Thursday, August 13, 2009, Albany, NY—Today, Albany children celebrated the Summer Food Service Program with a “Summer Food Celebration” event at Sheridan Park. The event was designed to raise awareness of the Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals to children during the summer months, and recognize an upcoming opportunity to improve this and other nutrition programs for children through federal legislation, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009.

Children enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon with free lunch, games, raffles, face painting, and other activities. Representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture and the New York State Education Department attended the event, along with Albany County Executive Michael Breslin, representatives from the Nutrition Consortium of New York State, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, and various other local officials and organizations.

All summer long, Albany children have been enjoying free meals through the Summer Food Service Program at various locations throughout the city. To address childhood hunger in the summer, the federally funded Summer Food Service Program allows schools, local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to provide nutritious meals at no charge to children age 18 and younger. The program is administered through the United States Department of Agriculture and the New York State Education Department.

At Sheridan Park, the Regional Food Bank and Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless partner to operate a summer meal site. The Nutrition Consortium of New York State, a statewide anti-hunger organization, joined with these organizations to coordinate the “Summer Food Celebration” event, in order to raise awareness about the Summer Food Service Program and other nutrition assistance programs for children. The timing of the event reflects an opportunity in the coming months to improve nutrition assistance programs for children through federal legislation.

“The Nutrition Consortium of New York State commends the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless for operating this wonderful Summer Food Service Program meal site for Albany children. Through the upcoming Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009, which is an opportunity to improve in-school and out-of-school nutrition programs for children, Congress must include measures that will help expand the reach of these programs to serve more needy children. It is also important to increase funding for these programs, so that more healthy foods can be included in the meals, and that measures are taken to streamline and simplify program administration,” said Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of New York State.

Mark Quant, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, said, “During the school year, many children from low-income families depend on the free and reduced-price meals they receive at school. When the summer months arrive, and school meals are no longer available, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York sees an increase in the number of families with children coming to our member agency food pantries and soup kitchens. To address this increased need, the Food Bank provides free meals to children at Sheridan Park and other locations throughout the region through the Summer Food Service Program. Now in our second year of the program, we believe it is an important way for us to meet the needs of hungry children in the community. We know they are depending on these free meals because many of the same children come to the meal sites every day.”

“Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless is fortunate to be working with the Regional Food Bank in an effort to strengthen the summer program for youth in our neighborhood. The teamwork and positive energy between the two teams of employees makes a difference for our clients and community,” stated Janine Robitaille, Executive Director of Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless.

-END-

Join Us! Summer Food Celebration Event

2009-08-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

PRESS ADVISORY

RELEASE DATE: Thursday, August 13, 2009

CONTACT: Casey Dinkin, Nutrition Consortium of NYS, (518) 229-8845

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FREE MEALS AND FUN FOR ALBANY CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER

Please join our Summer Food Celebration!

WHO:

60+ children who live in the City of Albany
United States Department of Agriculture
New York State Education Department
Nutrition Consortium of NYS

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless
State and local officials (TBD)

WHAT:

A Summer Food Celebration! This event will raise awareness of the Summer Food Service Program while providing a fun-filled afternoon for children with free lunch, games, raffles, face painting, and other activities. All summer long, Albany children have been enjoying free meals through this program at various locations throughout the city. Brief remarks by invited speakers will recognize the importance of the Summer Food Service Program, highlighting opportunities to improve this and other nutrition programs for children through upcoming federal legislation, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009.

WHEN:

Thursday, August 13th, 2009
11:30 am – 1:00 pm, formal program at 12:30 pm

WHERE:

Sheridan Park meal site, located at the corner of Dove and Sheridan Streets in Albany

WHY:

Summer can be the hungriest time of year for low-income children, when free and reduced price school meals are no longer available. To address childhood hunger in the summer, the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program allows schools, local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to provide nutritious meals at no charge to children age 18 and younger. At Sheridan Park, the Regional Food Bank and Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless have partnered to operate a summer meal site. The Nutrition Consortium, a statewide anti-hunger organization, has joined with these organizations to promote the Summer Food Service Program, and other nutrition assistance programs for children, through this Summer Food Celebration event.
-END-

Hunger, Nutrition Assistance Programs, and the Economic Crisis

2009-08-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

A Note from the Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of New York State

As our nation faces the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the need for government nutrition assistance programs is greater than ever. Participation in the federally-funded Food Stamp Program, our nation’s first line of defense against hunger, is reaching record numbers. Sadly however, food insecurity and hunger persist among people of all ages. As the Nutrition Consortium of New York State, Inc. pursues its mission of alleviating hunger for all New Yorkers, we are committed to achieving the greatest possible impact on behalf of all hungry New Yorkers.

The Food Stamp Program, the nation’s largest and most far-reaching nutrition assistance program, has proven to be a fast and effective responder for people in times of crisis. This was the case in disaster situations such as Hurricane Katrina and the flooding which ravaged areas of New York State in 2006. The most recent statistics reveal that more than 2.3 million New Yorkers are receiving food stamps. Nationally, 1 in 9 people are enrolled. While the economic factors contributing to this increase are real, unfortunate and must be dealt with, our immediate focus must be on ensuring that people do not go hungry; getting people food stamps in times of need is essential.

In addition to the health and workforce productivity advantages gained from helping people put food on the table, the positive economic returns of the Food Stamp Program are significant, and being more widely acknowledged. More retailers are accepting food stamps as a means to keep their businesses afloat in the midst of a recession. The federal government, recognizing the impact of food stamps as an economic stimulus, increased benefit amounts in April as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

New York State continues to recognize the importance of enrolling eligible individuals in the federally-funded Food Stamp Program, which brings billions of federal dollars into New York’s local economies and communities every year. Implementation of the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative, the new electronic application, and expanded “categorical eligibility” are streamlining the food stamp application process and increasing the number of people who are eligible for benefits. Other new statewide initiatives are raising benefit amounts for certain populations. The Nutrition Consortium is proud of the role it has played in assisting New York’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to develop and implement these initiatives.

In addition, by maintaining $1.8 million in state funding for the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), a statewide program which operates through community-based organizations to promote the Food Stamp Program and assist eligible people complete the application process, more than 27,000 households enrolled in the Food Stamp Program last year. This brought more than $65 million in federal food stamp dollars into the state.

Still, there is ample work to be done to address the issue of hunger in New York State. A recent study by Feeding America found that 1 in 6 children under the age of 18 are food insecure in New York State—meaning that they lack consistent access to food on a regular basis. People “on the ground” at food pantries, soup kitchens, and community based-organizations are reporting huge increases in demand, with resources that aren’t keeping up. The high demand for food stamps means that clients must often wait a long period of time before their application is processed and benefits are received. There are still many things that must be done to improve access to, and participation in, the Food Stamp Program as well as the other nutrition assistance programs. Currently, large numbers of eligible people are not receiving the assistance they need. For those who do receive assistance, benefit amounts are often inadequate to keep up with increasing food prices. School and afterschool meal programs for children are underfunded, which doesn’t allow for enough healthy foods to be part of the meals. And the list goes on.

The Food Stamp Program, and other nutrition assistance programs, must be strengthened to provide a sufficient response to hunger. In the Nutrition Consortium’s newly-released “Campaign for a Hunger-Free New York” public policy priorities, we outline specific goals and recommendations for public policy changes that will reduce hunger in New York State. The state and federal government, advocates, community based organizations, and community members need to work together to meet the nutritional needs of vulnerable people so that no one faces the despair of hunger, ever. Despite these challenging economic times, our nation and state still possess the resources to ensure that no one goes hungry.

As an organization that supports those who are working “on the ground” to assist people with meeting their food needs, the Nutrition Consortium is doing everything we can to ensure that our work is as efficient and effective as possible. We are updating all systems and processes, and increasing our technology and web-based presence, to better serve our colleagues, partners, and friends. This new e-newsletter is one way we are moving forward to better serve the anti-hunger effort in NYS. We will soon be introducing topic specific “news digests” for more in-depth information about the Food Stamp Program, child nutrition programs, and senior nutrition assistance programs. Additionally, our website and blog, launched at the beginning of the year, are frequently updated with the latest information about hunger, nutrition assistance programs, outreach, legislation, and advocacy opportunities.

On the topic of advocacy, the Nutrition Consortium is currently working with the NYS congressional delegation and partners across the state to support the upcoming Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009. This is an opportunity to strengthen the nutrition assistance safety net for children. Part of the solution to hunger is ensuring that children have the ability to access three nutritious meals a day, in the places where they learn and play. Through the upcoming Reauthorization, the Nutrition Consortium is advocating for funding increases, uniform nutritional standards, measures that will increase the number of low-income children who receive meals, and administrative simplification for the programs. We hope that you will join our Child Nutrition Reauthorization Coalition and support this important legislation, with a focus on addressing the needs of low-income children and supporting their ability to learn and grow to their fullest potential.

Lastly, we would like to invite those who hail from the greater Capital Region and Hudson Valley to join the Nutrition Consortium of New York State at our first fundraising event at Mexican Radio restaurant in Hudson, NY. On September 24th, 2009, Mexican Radio restaurant will donate 25% of your bill to support the Nutrition Consortium’s “Campaign for a Hunger-Free New York.” Please join us for some delicious Mexican fare at a beautiful venue, to support a very worthy cause.

Thank you for your support and contributions to the anti-hunger effort in New York State. We look forward to continuing this very important work together.

Sincerely,

Linda P. Bopp, Executive Director
Nutrition Consortium of NYS

"Back-to-School Bonus" for NY's Low-Income Children

2009-08-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

The New York Times reports:

"A $35 million gift from George Soros, the financier and philanthropist, will allow for a $200 back-to-school bonus for each of more than 850,000 low-income children in New York State this fall, state officials said on Friday.

The $175 million in bonuses are also funded by $140 million from the federal government under a four-to-one matching program for needy families created by the stimulus package.

Children in New York State eligible to receive the money must have been from ages 3 to 17 as of last Saturday, and their families must have received food stamps or have been on welfare in July. The money will be directly transferred into their families’ welfare or food stamp accounts."

Click here for the full NY Times article.

Click here for a FAQ about the "Back to School Supplement" from NYS OTDA.

Click here for a press release from Governor Paterson.

Topic-Specific News Digests for the Food Stamp Program, Child Nutrition Programs, and Senior Nutrition Assistance Programs

2009-08-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

Do you have a specific interest in the Food Stamp Program, child nutrition programs, or nutrition assistance programs for older adults? In the coming months, the Nutrition Consortium will be introducing topic-specific news digests for each of these three topic areas. If, in the past, you have received invitations to the child nutrition, senior nutrition, or food stamp workgroups, you will automatically receive the digest for the topic area(s) for which you received workgroup invitations. If you were not on the workgroup invitation list(s) and would like to receive one or more of the topic-specific digests, please email us and let us know which digest(s) you would like to receive (Food Stamp, Child Nutrition, or Senior Nutrition Assistance Programs).

New Child Nutrition Bills Introduced

2009-07-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

The following bills have been introduced at the federal level that would improve child nutrition programs, and reduce childhoold hunger, in NYS:

The Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act (S. 1480/H.R. 3277)

This bill aims to increase the number of low-income children receiving a free school breakfast. It would provide grants to expand school breakfast programs in schools with high percentages of low-income students. On July 21st, S. 1480 was introduced by Wisconsin Democratic Senators Herb Kohl and Russell Feingold, along with Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Jon Tester (D- MT); H.R. 3277 was introduced by Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) and ten House colleagues. S. 1226/H.R. 2803 encourages implementation of universal (free) classroom breakfast and would provide important financial support to schools seeking to improve the quality and convenience of their breakfast service in order to reach more students in high-need districts. To view the bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov and search for bill numbers S.1480 or H.R.3277.

Hunger Free Schools Act of 2009 (S. 1343)

This bill would help get more school meals to hungry children. It does the following:

1) Expands access to child nutrition programs by requiring school districts to utilize data from Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to directly certify more students that are eligible for free school meals.
2) Improves state performance in enrolling eligible children in school lunch programs by setting a performance standard for directly certifying students for school lunch programs (reaching 95 percent of students required to be directly certified) and providing incentives to high performance states.
3) Allows schools or districts serving a high proportion of low-income children to serve free meals to all students and be reimbursed based on socioeconomic data rather than individual applications.

Please contact your representatives and ask them to support these important bills!

End Childhood Hunger by 2015

2009-07-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

From the Food Research and Action Center's (FRAC) new website:

www.endingchildhunger2015.org

During the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama announced a goal of of ending childhood hunger in America by the year 2015. Since taking office, President Obama, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and other members of the Administration have reiterated that commitment.

FRAC has set out seven essential strategies in "Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015: The Essential Strategies for Achieving the President's Goal". They focus both on improving and expanding the nation’s nutrition programs, and bolstering the economy and strengthening supports for working families in order to move more out of poverty, the root cause of hunger in this country.

In brief, the seven strategies are:

-Restore economic growth and create jobs with better wages for lower-income workers.
-Raise the incomes of the lowest-income families.
-Strengthen the SNAP/Food Stamp Program.
-Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs.
-Engage the entire federal government in ending childhood hunger.
-Work with states, localities and nonprofits to expand and improve participation in federal nutrition programs.
-Make sure all families have convenient access to reasonably priced, healthy food.

More information on the strategies can be found in the FRAC paper.

“As a nation, we can and must reach this critically important goal of eradicating childhood hunger,” said Jim Weill, FRAC president. “President Obama made this a campaign pledge and his administration has re-committed itself to making sure all children are well fed each day. That will also mean healthier, better educated children with brighter futures. This paper outlines a realistic strategy for accomplishing the goal.”

“The Obama Administration takes the 2015 commitment seriously, and it is incumbent on the rest of us – members of Congress, governors, other public officials, anti-hunger advocates, faith-based institutions, child advocates, business, labor, and service providers – to do so as well,” Weill said.

Farm Stands Accept Food Stamps in New Pilot Program

2009-07-10T10:01:00.001-07:00

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recently announced a pilot program that will help families in need access fresh, local and nutritious produce at farm stands in Chautauqua and Wayne Counties. The program enables farm stands that up until now lacked the capability to accept and process Food Stamps. Here is the full press release from OTDA:http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/news/2009/2009-07-08.asp

Local Farmers' Markets Accepting EBT Cards!

2009-06-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Farmers' markets across NYS are now accepting the EBT cards. EBT = Electronic Benefit Transfer; instead of the paper food stamp coupons that were used in the past, food stamps are now issued on EBT cards, which are used like ATM or debit cards.

Here are the farmers' market locations where EBT cards are accepted:

http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/ebt.htm

EBT cardholders can use their card at these farmers' markets to obtain wooden tokens, which are used to purchase food stamp eligible items. At the day's end, farmers redeem their tokens with the market manager.

This effective new system generates more business for farmers' markets, and more opportunities for food stamp recipients to purchase fresh, healthy and local food!