1. Even with Food Stamps, Families Still Struggle
(The New York Times, June 22, 2008)

The 1.3 million food-insecure New Yorkers are finding it even more difficult to make ends meet in the face of rising food and fuel costs and food stamps that don't buy as much as they used to. City officials estimate that the numbers of food insecure residents is even higher now. New Yorkers on food stamps are hit particularly hard by the current high food inflation, as food prices in the city are substantially higher than in the rest of the U.S., according to the Food Research and Action Center. Food pantries have told City Council speaker Christine Quinn that they can't keep up with demands, and Quinn hears from constituents that they must water down milk for children or choose between prescription medications and food. "I am much more worried about the state of hunger in New York City than I was 6 or 12 months ago," she said. Food stamp recipient Cassandra Johnson says she's living …"paycheck to paycheck. And we're not coping." High food prices have forced her to buy marked-down food that's passed expiration dates in order to stretch her food stamps to feed herself and the two toddlers in her care. The government's food stamp allocations have remained the same since last fall. While they are due for an increase this October, advocates don't think that response to inflation will be enough. For poor families on food stamps, inflation has meant they must get by with two bags less of food each month, according to Stacy Dean, director of food assistance for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Recently, Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. led a coalition calling on Congress to temporarily increase food stamp benefits by 20 percent; USDA officials say there's "no precedent" for the action.

2. High Demand + Low Donations = Tough Times for Charities
(Business Week, June 13, 2008)

The Brooklyn, New York food pantry operated by the BedStuy Campaign Against Hunger has little on its shelves to help the increasing numbers of people requesting assistance, as donations have dried up during these tough economic times. Individuals are not able to give as much to nonprofits, and corporations are feeling the economic vise too, with "soaring commodity costs, a globally skittish credit market, and uneasy customers." Carolyn Cavicchio, a researcher at the Conference Board, points out that "[c]ompanies strive for a mutually beneficial relationship with nonprofits." This is another factor that might hurt smaller nonprofits, as they "often find it difficult to provide what a company needs: recognition, transparency, and a method to engage its employees with charity work." The BedStuy pantry's fundraising efforts - word of mouth, letters, and flyers - have not been successful, and one official at the umbrella organization Food Bank for New York City estimates food donations will fall 53 percent this fiscal year. But the demand is still rising as the unemployment rate climbs - the BedStuy pantry fed 5,500 people in March, 7,500 in April, and has turned away 800 more recently.

3. Food Stamps Part of Comprehensive Plan to Help Parolees Avoid Prison
(Arizona Republic, June 15, 2008)

Arizona parole officers are teaming up with state social workers to help former inmates and their families connect with programs, like food stamps, as part of a comprehensive effort to keep parolees from ending up back in prison. The state used zip codes to find the neighborhoods where most parolees live, then instituted pilot projects, such as "The Legacy Project" to deliver various forms of assistance to the former prisoners. Most prisoners end up in poverty stricken areas, such as the 84091 ZIP code area. This ZIP code is among the state's poorest, where half of all households receive welfare, Medicaid, food stamps or other assistance. Crime rates are also higher in these areas, and the parole programs aim to "break the cycle of crime" as well as save on prison costs. Parole officers teamed up with social workers to offer job training and search assistance, health insurance, and food stamps to parolees, all of which allow them to focus on their re-entry into society. "It put food in the refrigerator," said one parolee, a five-time felon, who added that the assistance helped take the stress off his mother, who he lives with. A number of other states have created similar programs to take a more comprehensive approach that addresses poverty, unemployment and other underlying issues, rather than a zero-tolerance approach for missed parole meetings, keeping former prisoners from socializing with each other, and criticism over poor work habits.

4. State Develops Strategy to Battle Next Winter's High Fuel Costs
(The New York Times, June 13, 2008)

A state task force is looking at ways to help Vermont residents battle current rising food, gas and home heating fuel costs in preparation for next winter, when prices may be worse than they are now. New England has the highest rates of heating oil use in the country; in Vermont, 56 percent of residents rely on it. According to Governor Jim Douglas, "We must face the growing reality that fuel prices this winter may be out of reach for many families." Currently, a gallon of heating oil costs $4.60. Some methods the state is planning include:

no- and low-interest loans to help residents with winterizing their homes;
creation of a public and private information clearinghouse for heating assistance;
development of town energy committees focused on home heating outreach and education.

In addition, the state will focus more energy on nutrition programs to help residents with the skyrocketing cost of food. These initiatives include:

increasing the number of farmers' markets in the state and encouraging Vermonters to eat more locally-grown food;
registering more residents for food stamps, focusing on the 30 percent of Vermonters who are eligible but not receiving the benefit; and
encouraging restaurants and other business to donate excess food to food banks.

5. Economic Problems Force Many to Forego Paying Utility Bills
(Daily Gazette, June 8, 2008)

Schenectady, New York's Community Action Program handles approximately 10 requests each week for help with unpaid utility bills, as many households in the area deal with high consumer costs for food, fuel and energy. Across the state, close to a million (936,607) residents had utility bills in arrears more than 60 days in the first three months of 2008. In dollars, this means that during January to March of this year, residents owed $499 million, compared to $425 million total that was owed in all of 2007. The federal Home Energy Assistance Program closed down for the season in May, forcing Schenectady residents to search for financial assistance or have their utilities shut off. Officials forecast many more residents will seek assistance this year than in the past.

6. Elderly and Poor Face Dismal Winter Unless Action Taken Now
(Timberjay Newspapers, June 17, 2008)

According to this editorial, Congress must expand the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program and increase funding for low-income households to improve efficiency in their home use of energy. Otherwise, this coming winter will bring even greater hardship to the nation's elderly and poor. Last winter was tough enough for many Americans when fuel oil cost $3 a gallon - it's now $4 a gallon, and trends show it will continue to rise in price. Residents of Minnesota will be hit particularly hard, unless the state's political leaders plan now. "It's unrealistic to believe that the poor or those on fixed incomes will somehow be able to adjust their budgets to accommodate such unprecedented increases," states the commentary. Many residents are still dealing with the economic hardships of last winter, and could face the upcoming season with far less support than in the past if the President succeeds in phasing out the home weatherization assistance program.

7. Florida Unemployment Rate Sends Food Stamp Use Skyward
(TampaBay.com, June 13, 2008; Palm Beach Post, June 16, 2008)

Near-record high numbers of Florida residents are seeking help from food stamps as the state experiences high levels of unemployment. Department of Children and Families (DCF) benefits office supervisor Eva Stokes notes that she hasn't seen food stamp numbers spike "to this extent." Statewide, the number of families receiving food stamps increased by 21 percent this year. Specific county increase numbers include

Pinellas County, where May 2008 saw 17 percent more families seeking assistance than in May 2007;
Palm Beach County, seeing a 27 percent jump in applicants since May 2007; and
Hernando County, where 58 percent more families sought help.

Hernando also has the area's highest unemployment rate - 6.6 percent. According to Stephen Honey, father of three, "It used to be when you opened the paper [there] used to be 10 to 15 ads for construction jobs. Nowadays, there isn't one." Food stamp use is a barometer of the state's economy, according to DCF deputy secretary Don Winstead. The agency is seeking to help even more through outreach to county offices and charities. First-time applicants find it less embarrassing to ask for assistance, as much of the state's application process is done through the Internet.

8. Utah's Single Fathers Could Use More Federal Help
(The Salt Lake Tribune, June 15, 2008)

Although single-father households only amount to two percent of Utah's single parent households in the state, advocates say that number is growing, and many single dads may feel cut out of the system. One father, Daren Berg, does get food stamps and Medicaid, but is "…lucky to eat one good full meal a day." His son, Rossum, goes to an afterschool program run by the Boys and Girls Clubs, but a recent morning found him and his father sharing a single plate of pasta for breakfast. Daren was able to buy his son more food at school, but he may not be able to do that every day. Daren recently began a job dishwashing at Whole Foods, paying $9 an hour, which, he said, "…isn't a lot of money to support your child by yourself." He sometimes borrows money from his mother, but he knows that it isn't a "cure-all."

9. Food and Fuel Costs Drive More to Food Stamps
(Plattsburgh Press Republican, June 15, 2008)

Plattsburgh, New York saw a 37 percent jump in food stamp applications in the past year, with more than 8,000 using the benefit in March 2007 - a record for the area. The high costs of food and fuel are driving the numbers, and Social Services Director Jay T. LePage notes, "We're seeing mostly working families that just can't make it anymore." Clinton County now has 8,200 people on food stamps, compared to 7,400 last year at this time; Franklin County saw an additional 200 added to the roster, which increased by more than 4,900 over the past five months. Franklin County's Social Services Commissioner Lesley Lyon hopes to increase the number by reaching those residents who are eligible but aren't signed up. However, food stamps aren't buying recipients as much as in the past. "Plums are $2.99 a pound," notes single mother Raen Harvey. "How can they expect us to eat properly when all the healthy stuff is so expensive," she asked.

10. New York Searches Medicaid Lists for Possible Food Stamp Recipients
(WNYC, June 16, 2008)

In a recent search through Medicaid records, New York City's Human Resources Administration identified 635,000 food stamp eligible households not receiving the assistance. More than two million city residents are on Medicaid, which has similar eligibility requirements. City Council speaker Christine Quinn noted "We now know in what zip code those individuals live. This is literally a road map to help us reduce hunger in the city of New York." Officials say sixty percent of the families identified could meet food stamp requirements. A letter to those families telling them they could be eligible will be sent out in July.

11. Floods Bring WIC Replacement Checks
(Terre Haute Tribune Star, June 17, 2008)

Indiana residents receiving WIC benefits can replace checks lost or destroyed by recent floods. The local WIC clinics are offering the replacement checks to Western Indiana Community Action participants affected by the disaster. In addition, eligible individuals not yet receiving the benefit can sign up for the program at the local WIC offices.

12. School and Energy Drinks Don't Mix
(WTOP News, June 17, 2008)

Manville High School in Hillsborough, New Jersey recently banned caffeinated and high stimulant energy drinks. Principal Mary McLoughlin sent a letter to the homes of all 1,250 students notifying parents of the ban and urging them to monitor the amount of caffeine their children consume in energy drinks at home or away from school. "We started to notice here that the kids were coming into school a little bit hyper," says McLoughlin. "When we asked them what's going on, they would say 'I didn't have breakfast, but I had an energy drink." American Beverage Association spokesperson Craig Stevens, consulted in this story, stated that energy drinks are for adults, and were never meant to be consumed by children.

13. Summer Programs Step In to Feed Children When Schools Let Out
(Charlotte Observer, June 16, 2008)

Close to 10,000 Union County students currently receive free and reduced-price meals at school. For parents counting on those meals, summer vacation means an additional financial strain as they try to stretch limited funds and find it difficult to feed their children. Since school let out local charities saw an upswing in requests for assistance. Loaves and Fishes president Al Diehl said "This summer is particularly bad. We're feeding about 15 percent more than we would normally see at this time." With many families strapped by increased food and fuel costs, plus extra costs for child care in the summer, the state's Department of Health and Human Services has stepped in to help. Six Union County sites now provide free breakfast and lunch for students 18 and under, with no signup or paperwork necessary - the kids can just show up and eat.

14. Solutions Bring Greens and More to Food Deserts
(Associated Press/Boston Globe, June 7, 2008)

Millions of Americans live in "food deserts," areas lacking in grocery stores serving fresh food at low cost. "The majority of the country is predicated on driving somewhere [for groceries]," notes USDA economist Ephraim Leibtag, "so 'close to home' may be defined differently if you don't have a car." States are devising various solutions to the food desert problem to bring healthier food to residents. Some of these solutions are:

Veggie Mobile: Driving locally grown produce to residents of Albany, Troy and Schenectady, New York, the Veggie Mobile offers better prices and fresher options than smaller local stores. The Veggie Mobile is operated by the Capital District Community Gardens and funded by a half-million dollar grant from the health department.

Consumer Supported Agriculture: Residents within 30 miles of Ames, Iowa, can order 20 weeks of food on the internet through the Farm to Folk program. Prices range from $95 to $430 a share; customers pick up food weekly from a nearby church.

Garage Market: a downtown St. Louis two-story urban market, operated by a local grocery firm and housed in a former parking garage, will be finished by 2009. This will be the urban center's only full grocery store and pharmacy.

Supermarket Development: Public funds are being leveraged in Pennsylvania, through the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, to create loans for supermarket development. Millions of dollars are joining public and private funds to provide an incentive for more stores to open as well as provide corner stores with coolers to carry more fresh food.

Corner Stores: Hartford Food System, a nonprofit in Connecticut, offers promotional assistance to small stores that agree to move more healthy food options in a portion of space normally reserved for junk food.

Amy Klein, executive director of Capital District Community Gardens, said that while some thought people wouldn't be interested in fresh food via the Veggie Mobile, families are buying lots of the fresh produce. "They're not looking for a freebie, they're appreciative that it's there, that it's available, and it's affordable," she said.

15. School District Moves to Natural, Healthier Cafeteria Menus
(Santa Barbara Independent, June 15, 2008)

Nancy Weiss, director of nutrition for the Santa Barbara School Districts, plans on cutting costs by buying in bulk from local growers as she moves school menus to healthier options. The new menus will debut when the 2008-2009 school year starts. Turkey, chicken, and fish will largely replace beef. Fruits and vegetables will come from preservative-free farms. In addition, schools will switch out the popular but highly caloric Vitamin Water with "Twist, a "USDA certified, organic, preservative-free beverage that contains less than ten calories per bottle."

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