Were you ever on Food Stamps (SNAP)?

Lisa Goddard
Advocacy and Online Marketing Director

A new study released by the George Warren Brown School of Social work at Washington University in St. Louis and published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine reveals a sobering commentary on the quality of life for many American children.  

• Almost half of all U.S. children will live in a household that uses SNAP at some time in their lives. 
• One in four children in America will live in a household that uses SNAP for five or more years during their childhood. 
• For single parents 91% of children living in these households rely on SNAP. The usage is similarly high for black families and for families with low education levels. 
• Mark Rank, poverty expert and study co-author, explains these findings further.

The study is based on 30 years of data and takes into account a variety of economic conditions.  Clearly, the SNAP program is critical for many children in America, as there is such a high risk for them living in poverty at some point in their childhood.  

Remember, just because a child is poor, does not mean they will qualify for SNAP, or a variety of other Federal programs.  There are still many children who are not supported by the federal feeding safety net and rely on the support of the community, and the food banking system.   I agree with Mr. Rank.  We need a serious wakeup call.

Did you ever live on Food Stamps as a child?  What do you remember about that time? Consider sharing your story with us through our new Hunger Stories initiative, or comment below. 

Bonus Advocacy Points:  Share your story with your legislative representative, and help make ending hunger a priority in Texas.  If you need some extra talking points for your letter, Children’s Health Watch recently put together a nice one-sheeter summary about the harmful effects that even low food insecurity can have on children.

Be Good, Do Good, Recognize Good

RecognizeGood.org is an online public forum where anyone can reward, acknowledge and promote others for their acts of kindness and unselfish charity.

Today, they announced a six-week contest called “iWitness Goodness,” encouraging Central Texans to recognize and record extraordinary and everyday acts of kindness, regardless of the size. To enter:

• Witness someone doing something good, big or small
• Record kind acts (on Recognize.org) between August 18-September 30
• Check back to see the winners

Tim’s a waiter at IHOP and is recognized for his kindness to the homeless. After each shift, he gives his employee meal to a homeless person.

Rose is recognized for being thoughtful and special. Her smiling face brings an appreciated early morning conversation every Thursday.

Know a kind person? Share your story.

Recognize someone on RecognizeGood, and they’ll make a small donation in their honor to a local nonprofit in your area. CAFB has been chosen as one of those recipients. iPrize package valued at $5,000.

Austin Baptist Chapel serves more than food, they serve hope.

Watch this video [2:02] –

What do you think? Share in the comments section below.

“I’ve never had to ask before.”

Our friends, family and neighbors continue to lose their jobs, and, as a result, many seek food assistance for the first time. Do you know someone who needs help with food?

Here are a few suggestions on how to ease possible tensions and/or embarrassment:

• Help them navigate through all the available resources. It may seem daunting, but it’s worth the effort.
• Create a packet of information, including food pantry locations, 2-1-1 info, Food Stamp application and upcoming job fairs (if applicable) and give it to them.
• Let them know they’re not alone – 40 percent more people are receiving food assistance (than this time last year), many for the first time.
• Tell them that some food pantries, like CAFB East Austin Service Center, have a client choice program that allows you to choose what you want. Receiving food there is much like going to the grocery store.

For more information on available resources, click here.

Delays are not Defeat

For many Americans, and especially Texans, Juneteenth is a special time to reconnect with the community and celebrate our common bond of freedom. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of Texas slaves, commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement through a wide array of activities.

Source: City of Austin website

In Central Texas, the official Juneteenth celebration includes a poetry slam, essay contest and quiz bowl honoring James Farmer, Jr., the fourteen year old college student portrayed in the film The Great Debaters  (2007). And of course, what celebration wouldn’t be complete without food! In backyards and parks across Texas, you can smell the aroma baked beans, barbecue chicken, potato salad, collard greens and corn bread.

Juneteenth is a good reminder that detours and delays should not discourage us from our goal for a hunger-free community. We can do it.

Have a happy and safe Juneteenth!

Deloitte Employees = IMPACT

Deloitte is spending the day at the Food Bank for its 10th annual IMPACT Day, a celebration of its year-round commitment to workplace volunteerism. More than 170 Deloitte employees are working on 14 projects; including building computers, distributing food at the East Austin Service Center and sharing their business expertise with our Partner Agencies.

Louis and Sheridan share –

 

 
On IMPACT Day, more than 40,000 Deloitte employees nationwide are encouraged to contribute their time and skills to nonprofit organizations.

See photos here.

Thank you, Deloitte!

5 Reasons Why It’s Expensive to Be Hungry

A recent Washington Post article said it best: “The poorer you are, the more things cost. More in money, time, hassle, exhaustion and menace.”   CAFB President & CEO, David Davenport, also experienced this phenomenon in week three of his food stamp challenge, eating on a dollar-a-meal budget.  When you’re trying to lift yourself out of poverty, those hours spent finding affordable, healthy food can also mean time spent working. 

Here are 5 reasons it’s expensive to be hungry:

1. If there’s no reliable public transportation in the area, the cost of getting a taxi or paying for other transportation to get emergency food assistance can add up.
2. It takes time to re-apply for food stamps if your SNAP application was mistakenly lost or if it was denied.
3. It takes time to find the cheapest deals on nutritious food, especially when there are only convenience stores within walking or biking distance and you must travel to get healthy food.
4. It cost more to find affordable, nutritious, hot meals when you don’t have access to a stove or microwave (cooking at home saves money.)
5. There is an emotional cost to using a LoneStar card, and thinking fellow shoppers are judging every purchase you make.

What would you add to this list? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.

Letter to the Editor: Hungry Texas Children Should Be a Top Priority

The following is a letter to the editor of the Austin American-Statesman by David Davenport, President & CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank.  Similar letters were sent to newspapers in our 21-county service area. It is re-printed here in its entirety:

Over the past year, social service providers in Travis County supplied by the Capital Area Food Bank have noticed an unsettling trend – the rates of both child hunger and child obesity are rising.

Last week, a national report confirmed the worst: Texas has the highest rate of child hunger in the nation.

Thankfully, the Texas Legislature just approved a measure that could help.

HB 1622, the “food bank bill” passed unanimously in the Senate this week, promising to distribute $20 million in nutritious food to at-risk children across the state. HB 1622 is an opportunity for food banks and the state to work together, but the bill is only a promise – in order to work it must be funded by the budget conference committee, including local Senator Steve Ogden.

HB 1622 can supply the nutritious food needed by hungry children in Travis County, and provide a crucial link in the fight against child obesity. Our state budget offers tough decisions this year, but in this economy it is more important than ever that hungry children receive top priority. After all, if the health of our children isn’t “basic,” what is?

February Poll – Talk to us.

Question: In Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, he’s pledged to end childhood hunger by 2015. In his plan, he recognized the important role food banks play in addressing childhood hunger, and how they help address the hurdles within the Food Stamp program. Will food banks, community-based providers and a strengthened government response be enough to do the job?

Take the poll on our website and tell us what you think by commenting below.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

President-elect Obama is calling all Americans to join forces on Monday, Jan. 19 for “Renewing America Together,” a national day of community service in honor of Dr. King.

 

In response to the call, we’re providing additional volunteer opportunities for Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 18. Click here for schedule.

Can’t make it this weekend? Join us for “Skip Lunch, Feed Central Texas.” From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, January 19, come to the Food Bank to volunteer or make a monetary or non-perishable food donation, and get your picture taken with (cardboard) President-elect Obama!