Thank you for helping us “Feed a Lot!”

David Davenport
President and CEO

Thank you for being part of our community working to end hunger! Your contribution helped us do extraordinary things during Hunger Action Month.

Here’s a look at our accomplishments:

• We raised 1.2 million meals to help feed our hungry neighbors this month.
• We recently added a new Mobile Food Pantry site in Gause, TX. This area is one of the highest-need areas in Texas. More than 6,400 hungry Central Texans are nourished each month through our Mobile Food Pantry program.
• Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we met the Regal Matching Gift challenge in less than 24 hours, providing 40,800 nutritious meals for our hungry neighbors.

In the spirit of “Give a Little, Feed a Lot,” consider sending an e-Thanks to someone who has made a difference in your life.

Thank you, again, for helping us nourish our community.

Dine out at the Cheesecake Factory and they’ll donate to the Food Bank.

 

 

Photo courtesy The Cheesecake Factory

How would you like a piece of Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake with moist layers of red velvet cake and cheesecake covered with a special Cheesecake Factory cream cheese frosting?  25¢ from the sale of each slice will be donated to Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. 

Sound too decadent? Well, there are more than 30 cheesecakes from which to choose (and, yes, there are healthy salads if you’re watching your weight).

On Sept. 30, and as part of Hunger Action Month, bring two cans of non-perishable food with you when you eat at the Cheesecake Factory and they’ll donate 10 percent of your bill to the Food Bank.

Treat yourself to a hunger-ending meal.

Hunger Action Month: Gardens love rain.

Our Teaching Garden loves the rain, and is full of fresh herbs and vegetables. Is yours? As part of Hunger Action Month, “give a little, feed a lot” by donating your extra harvest to the Food Bank, and help us nourish hungry Central Texans. Here are six more simple ways to help during Hunger Action Month.

Like to garden? We’re planting new crops for the fall season, Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. – noon. Click here for more information and to volunteer.

Hunger Action Month: Poverty, increase in food demand and Texas

Lisa Goddard
Advocacy and Online Marketing Director

Census shows sharp rise in poverty. Feeding America study shows increase in food demand. Texas ranks above national average.

Last Friday, census numbers revealed the poverty rate climbed to 13.2 percent from 12.5 percent. The number of people living in poverty rose to 39.8 million last year, an increase of 2.6 million from 2007, and 15.9 percent of Texans lived in poverty in 2008.

In early September 2009, Feeding America conducted a survey of food banks to learn more about the challenges they, their member agencies, and clients face. The report shows a staggering increase in food bank demand (99 percent report an increase in demand for emergency food assistance over the past year). I encourage you to learn about what our sister food banks are reporting around the country, what’s going on in Texas, and what we’re facing in Central Texas.  

What happens when families in poverty do not have a safety net through family, friends or federal feeding programs like SNAP (food stamps)?  Food Banks become their lifeline, and it shows.

Putting the numbers into context:

The official U.S. poverty rate is based on income thresholds. According to census calculations, a family of four is considered poor if pretax income falls below $21,660; $10,830 for an individual.  There are some advocacy and interest groups who assert that this number grossly underestimates what it really means to be poor in America. Recently, the Obama administration agreed, and implemented changes to the calculation of poverty, specifically for seniors, to account for medical expenses and other costs of living.

Others feel that in comparison to other poor individuals in the world, America’s poor “aren’t really that bad off.”  Do you think $21,660 can support a family of four’s nutritious diet, provide them with adequate, warm housing for the winter, prepare them for work and school, and support basic health care needs?   

What’s at stake for counting the poor?

According to Nonprofits Count, lower-income individuals are frequently undercounted by the census, leading to underfunding of critical services and infrastructure and underrepresentation in government.  States receive an average $1,200 per person annually through census data-driven federal formula grants. As you can see, Central Texas is leaving money on the table, as evidenced by our low census participation rates in the last census.

What you can do.

Call your Congresspersons today and tell them what you think about the state of poverty in your community.  Share the statistics from the Feeding America report so they know the staggering need for food assistance. Ask for reform and support for Central Texas’s poor, and especially children in poverty.

Get involved with census outreach to ensure all Central Texans are counted. Click here to find out how you can support nonprofits with their outreach.

Your favorite is…

CAFB Serenade! This song was written and performed by 11-year-old Dylan Tacker.  Dylan also volunteers at the Food Bank.

Thanks for voting and participating in the “My Meatball and Me” contest.  In the spirit of  “Give a Little, Feed a Lot”, we ask that you share this inspiring video with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and by email.  It’s one more easy way you can help educate the community about hunger.

Will you share Dylan’s message today?

Here’s the winning video one more time:

Our winning contestant will receive five free tickets to the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movie screening.

Hunger Action Month: Give a little time, make a big impact

“Give a Little, Feed a Lot” is the Hunger Action Month mantra.

Here’s how giving a little time nourishes our hungry neighbors.

Cast your vote! Winners receive tickets to movie screening with Kids Cafe families.

 

Earlier this week, and as part of Hunger Action Month, we posted a “My Meatball and Me” contest. We received several great entries and narrowed it down to three, so from now through noon on Sept. 9, cast your vote  for your favorite meatball story! Winners will receive five passes to the “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” movie screening. Happy voting!

Childhood is Too Short to be Spent Hungry

David Davenport
President and CEO

 

With just days remaining before Congress returns to D.C. to tackle the nation’s concerns on health care, the financial crisis, and other pressing issues, citizens are taking this time to voice their concerns (and in some cases, outrage) and demands for reform from our leaders right here at home.  Even with all the energy,  I can’t help but feel excited about the sheer number of citizens, from all education levels, walks of life and political spectrums, who are engaged in the political process.   

At the Capital Area Food Bank, we’re not just interested in the level of outrage against child hunger, but in the effectiveness of our collective response to the child hunger problem. That’s why Hunger Action Month is not just about giving your money, or giving time, but caring enough to do something.

Not just anything; Something. Because “something” implies intent and purpose. Food banks across the nation are helping guide that action by providing you with our top tips for being effective.  We’ve localized some of those tips on our website at http://www.budurl.com/hungeraction/

Childhood is too short to be spent hungry. Give a little, and you will help feed a lot of little ones right here at home.

My Meatball and Me contest – win passes to pre-screen “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”

As part of Hunger Action Month, Feeding America has partnered with Sony Pictures Animation to encourage children ages 8-12 to get involved in the fight against hunger.

We’re excited that Austin was selected as one of five cities in the country for pre-screening the new Sony Pictures animation, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  And, our Food Bank was chosen to fill the seats!   We’re inviting children from our Kids Cafe program, who probably don’t get to go to the movies very often.

We’re also inviting you.  But first, you have to tell us your favorite meatball story.

Ok, let us explain.

Send in a photo, video, song, story, dance interpretation or whatever your creative heart desires involving you and a meatball*, and two winners will receive five passes each to view the movie along with our Kids Cafe families.

We’ll announce the semi-finalists on our blog on Thursday, September 3, where you will have the chance to vote for your favorite. Voting ends at noon on Wednesday, September 9. We’ll announce the winners on our blog later that afternoon.

Time is short, so don’t delay!

Movie Details:
Wednesday, September 16, 5 p.m.
Regal Metropolitan 14

901 Little Texas Ln
Austin, TX 78745-4116

*Vegetarian and vegan meatballs are acceptable.