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FRAC Releases NEW States of the States Report on Hunger
Compiled annually by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), State of the States provides a comprehensive snapshot of hunger, poverty, and federal nutrition programs for the nation and each state. The report includes detailed state-by-state information on the extent of hunger and poverty, participation in eight federal nutrition programs (including food stamps, WIC and school meals), and economic data. The full report is available online at www.frac.org.
The report also includes new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that show the extent of hunger in each state. In CT, 122,000 people lived in households that struggled against hunger in the average year from 2005-2007.
Major CT findings from the report include:
* 62% of eligible individuals are participating in SNAP/Foods Stamps in CT. Of the working poor that are eligible for the program, only 45% are participating. This makes CT 28th in the nation for SNAP/Food Stamp participation
* Participation in the summer food program changed by 33.2% over the past ten years in CT
* 7.9% of CT residents live in poverty
* CT ranks 47th in participation for School Breakfast
IF...
CT's Summer Food participation reached 40%, we would receive an additional 1.1 million dollars
CT's School Breakfast participation reached 60%,
we would receive an additional 7.8 million dollars |
How DO we "End Hunger CT!"?
As the State's leading resource and advocacy organization focusing on eliminating hunger in CT, people may wonder how EHC! assists food insecure and hungry individuals and families in having enough food to meet their needs. The United States Department of Agriculture's Federal Food Programs have long served as resources providing food and nutrition education for various at-risk populations. EHC! educates and connects people to these programs while working to strengthen and expand their reach through state and federal action. Click here for a printable flyer with program information. Please call EHC! (860) 560-2100 for more information about how you can too can become an advocate.
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Food Prices Continue to Rise 
Gas prices may be going down, but food prices have continued rise forcing many to stretch already limited food budgets. Unfortunately for some, food is the most expendable every day need and is often trumped by childcare, transportation, and heating costs. According to the Department of Labor, the cost of food at home has risen 7.6% from September 2007-September 2008. Many healthier home staple foods like lean meats and vegetables have seen more dramatic cost increases. In a summit on the rising cost of food on October 29th, at Stop and Shop in Newington, Senate Pro-Tem Donald Williams mentioned that the price of milk has risen 25% in the past year. For people on SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) it's become increasingly harder to stretch benefits to last the entire month and ALSO purchase healthy foods.
Tips for all Shoppers
The University of Connecticut, The University of Rhode Island, and the Senior Nutrition Awareness Program have put together a flyer on "Stretching your Food Dollar".
Tips include:
-Look for stores that use double coupons
-Buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season
-Avoid buying foods that are at eye level-they are more expensive than those on the top or bottom shelves
Click here for the printable flyer.
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Show your Patriotism by Helping to End Hunger
By Lucy Nolan and Gloria J. McAdam
Published in the Journal Inquirer November 15, 2008
With the longest presidential campaign in history behind us, regardless of how we feel about the outcome, most of us will agree that we are glad that the campaign is finally over.
We heard a lot about patriotism in this campaign. Must a candidate wear a flag pin or always pose with a red, white, and blue background to be considered patriotic? Do other voters who don't happen to agree with our worldview love their country any less? Is it possible to love your country as a patriotic citizen and yet still acknowledge that it has flaws that we need to work on?Here's a real question about patriotism for us to consider, now that the election is over.
What is patriotic about allowing fellow Americans to go without enough food?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture tells us that 8.2 percent of Connecticut residents live in "food insecure" households. Food insecure may not always mean hungry, but it does mean that a family is not certain of where the food will come from week by week.
And Feeding America, the nation's largest private anti-hunger organization, has research demonstrating that one out of 10 Americans rely on private charities - like food pantries and community kitchens - in order to have enough food for their families.
The sad reality is that, as a nation, we are letting some of our citizens go hungry, even though we have solutions to this problem.
These solutions do not lie in the hands of private charities alone. There is not enough donated food, enough volunteers, or enough money for charities to solve this problem. Even the largest food drive in the Hartford area provides less than a day's worth of food to all the region's food pantries and kitchens, for instance.
Federal nutrition programs can feed families and children while putting them on the road to self-sufficiency.
Unfortunately, our new presidential administration will be confronted with programs that lack funding for food, administration, and outreach, and also put up roadblocks for many who would use these programs.
The up-front expenses of fully funding these food programs will be recouped later, however, through lower absenteeism in work and school, lower short- and long-term medical costs for babies and their mothers, and an increased ability to learn or work. And those are just a few of the positive outcomes of well-fed families.
Solving hunger in the U.S. requires a multipronged approach, the often touted, but not always implemented, public-private partnership.
We'll achieve this partnership and solve hunger when:
· The federal government invests in, strengthens, and helps people access the national nutrition safety net of programs that support people in need.
· State and local governments ensure that policies and practices allow citizens to take full advantage of these federal programs. State and local government can also provide incentives for food retailers to locate in low-income neighborhoods and offer healthy foods choices.
· School systems make certain that all students have access to nutritious breakfasts and lunches as a part of the school day.
· The business community supports charitable efforts to end hunger and helps connect part-time or other low-wage workers to services that can help them.
· Individuals get involved in ways beyond the food drive and demand elected officials do more.
· And, yes, charities still have a role. In addition to providing services, charities must effectively increase public understanding of the hunger problem and successfully advocate for changes that lead to real and lasting solutions.
The election of a new president heralds a time of change and hope. Both candidates encouraged Americans to unite as one and move forward.
Times are tough for many of us right now, but what better way to demonstrate our true patriotism than to strive together to make sure that none of our neighbors go hungry. |
| Presidental Commitment to End Hunger by 2015
According to President-elect Barack Obama's website, the new administration has plans to strengthen and expand nutrition assistance programs in an effort to end hunger by 2015. Both President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden supported provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill, which included improvements in the Food Stamp Program (now called SNAP) and increased accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables for schools.
The plan addresses the need to increase economic opportunities to eliminate childhood hunger and reduce hunger among adults. President Obama will work with congress to produce a strong Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Bill to strengthen and improve access to programs that reach these vulnerable populations. The Food Research and Action Center ( FRAC) reports that, in Connecticut- 8.8% of households are food insecure ( other state rankings). The federal nutrition programs provide dependable support for individuals and families in need; it's important we all do our part to support policies for these programs that increase access and ultimately create greater self-sufficiency. Click here to read "The Plan to Fight Hunger".
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Mark your calendars! 
Important Events and Conferences
12/ 9 EHC! Annual Meeting 2008
Join the
Food Research and Action Center's
Ellen Teller, Director of Gov. Affairs
for a discussion on
Hunger and Child Nutrition with the New President and New Congress
Hunger Leader Awards 2008
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Dawn Butler, Dept. of Social Services
Cross Street A.M.E Zion Church
440 West Street Middletown, CT
4:40-6:00 RSVP here
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Lucy Nolan
End Hunger Connecticut! |
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