The Weekly Food Research and Action Center News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

1. Nation's Hunger Crisis Needs National Focus
(Boston Herald, October 29, 2008)

In this op-ed, Senator George McGovern (1972 Democratic presidential nominee) and Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) call on the next president to make ending hunger a priority. The current presidential campaigns, as well as those in power, seem "indifferent" to the fact that 35 million Americans, residents of the world's "most prosperous nation" can be termed hungry, they write. No questions posed to candidates during the debates focused on hunger -- a global problem affecting 1 billion, 400 million of which are children, and getting worse. They point out that America has enough food to not only end hunger here at home but all over the world. They recommend that the next President appoint a hunger czar, a "point person … to oversee and coordinate the various food, nutrition and anti-poverty programs" spread among many different government agencies and departments in order to battle this crisis. "Ultimately, the goal is not to hand out food but rather to increase the independence, purchasing power and food security of every human being," they write. Hunger can be eradicated in their lifetimes, they say, even though one is 86 and the other 48, but only through leadership at every government level, and only if the next president makes it a priority.

2. Increasing Food Stamps "Obvious" Part of Next Economic Stimulus Package
(San Jose Mercury News, October 25, 2008)

According to this op-ed, increasing food stamps is an "obvious" element, along with extended unemployment benefits, of the next economic stimulus package, which Congressional Democrats hope could be $150 billion or more. The second stimulus would also help guard against a recession. It would also spare Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature from "immediate bloodletting" in the state budget if sufficient state and local government funds are included. Jumpstarting road and mass transit projects and other construction would put thousands of people back to work. Because of the nationwide economic crisis, states, cities and counties suffer: "property tax, sales tax and capital gains revenues are declining because of layoffs, stock losses and plummeting property values. But unlike Congress, states and counties can't just print money." The previous stimulus package, at $168 billion, had limited success; families used their income tax rebates to pay debts instead of purchase goods. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently offered testimony in support of a second stimulus package.

3. AFL-CIO Calls for Expanded Food Stamps in Next Stimulus Package
(MarketWatch, October 24, 2008)

Ron Blackwell, chief economist for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, testified before a House panel last week and called on Congress to move as quickly in approving a bailout for working families as it did with the $700 billion financial rescue package. At a minimum, Blackwell said that expanded food stamps, extending unemployment benefits, and state government aid to shore up health care are crucial parts of the next economic stimulus package. "The same energy and imagination is called for in shaping an economic recovery package if we are to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating conditions in the real economy," Blackwell told Congress. "This is not the time for undue caution or misplaced concern for federal budget deficits." A "well-crafted package" can protect against some of the worst parts of the recession, he said. Jared Bernstein, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, also testified, saying the package must have food stamps, unemployment, and state fiscal relief, with an emphasis on infrastructure projects "up and running within months, quickly generating much needed new jobs." A one-year package totaling between $150 and $300 billion, or 1-2 percent of the GDP, is needed, he said. A recent bill including many of these items, for $61 billion, was passed in the House, but died in the Senate.

4. Congressman Frank Sees Economic Stimulus as Best Bailout for Country
(Boston Globe, October 25, 2008)

Helping U.S. homeowners faced with home foreclosures is a vital part of an economic stimulus package that could get the economy back by the middle of 2009, said Representative Barney Frank in a recent Boston Globe interview. Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, also wants the stimulus package to include a boost to food stamps, increased unemployment benefits, as well as infrastructure money to states and tax relief for middle and working class Americans. "If we get aggressive about reducing foreclosures and we pass a good stimulus package of upwards of $150 billion, then I could see this starting to turn around by next summer," Frank commented. Gus Faucher, director of macroeconomics for the research firm Moody's Economy.com, agrees that a second stimulus package is needed in order to jumpstart recovery. Unemployment figures tend to lag behind growth figures, said Faucher, and could go as high as 7.5 percent by mid-2009. If it doesn't, "the recovery would come later."

5. Significant Percentage of Texans Missing Out on Food Stamps
(Texans Against Hunger, October 28, 2008)

According to FRAC's Food Stamp Access in Urban America report, only 51 percent of eligible Houston residents, and 72 percent of eligible San Antonians, receive food stamps. This means that not only are there many more who can be helped by the program, but the two cities are missing out on a combined total of $198.5 million in annual federal funds, which could help in the battle against hunger but stimulate the local economies. Said JimWeill, FRAC president, "Cities have to do a much better job of reaching eligible people with food stamps. Households are crushed between rising food prices and falling incomes. Food stamps are a crucial way to help."

6. Millions in Food Stamp Benefits Go Unclaimed in Indiana
(WTHR, October 30, 2008)

More than $12 million in food stamp benefits go unclaimed in Indianapolis as residents who are eligible do not receive the benefit, according to FRAC's Food Stamp Access in Urban America report. "They may not know of the program," said FRAC President Jim Weill. "They may think that they're not eligible because they're working, even though their income is so low that they are eligible," he added. These millions in unclaimed benefits could be helping the state's economy during this time of home foreclosures and uncertain finances. The FRAC report shows that the benefit goes to 80 percent of those eligible in Marion County, which has one of the highest rates among the 24 cities surveyed in the report. But millions of dollars remain unused, money which advocates say would be spent almost immediately and is the best way to boost local economies.

7. FRAC Food Stamp Report Generates Additional Interest in Program
(abc7chicago.com, October 28, 2008)

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky called food stamps "the patriotic thing to do" in her recent visit to Chicago's San Lucas Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen. Interviewed for this story by abc7chicago, Schakowsky went on to say "every dollar that's spent on food…puts about [$1.73] in economic activity into the economy." The story was prompted by the release of FRAC's Food Stamp Access in Urban America report, and mentions that in Cook County, "only 76 percent of people who are eligible to participate in the food stamp program are participating, which means [the county is] losing over $108 million in federal funds, and that also many people feel that there is a stigma to being on food stamps." San Lucas is seeing more and more people walk through their doors for help. "Lately, we are seeing 120, 150. During the summer we had a lot of kids that come here and eat," said Carmen Flores Rance of San Lucas Church. However, food stamp application lines are increasing, according to Diane Doherty of the Illinois Hunger Coalition. More people need to apply for the program, she noted. The story ends with information on how to apply for food stamps.
Additional coverage from the Food Stamp Access in Urban America report:
California Association of Food Banks - news release
WTHR Indianapolis - Includes interview with FRAC President Jim Weill
MyFoxChicago

8. Food Banks Straining Under Need Produced by Economic Crisis
(Dayton Daily News, October 5, 2008)

Evictions, foreclosures, job layoffs, high food and fuel prices and high health care costs are sending increasing numbers of people to seek assistance across the state. Ohio now has its highest unemployment rate since 1992. J. Elaine Jelly, Catholic Social Services pantry executive director, reports that calls for assistance have gone from 30 a day to 125. "We've had days where…the shelves are literally empty," said pantry spokeswoman Regina Estep. Estep also said that the economic statistics people read these days are "coming to life in the food line." In Greene County, a recent review found "30 percent or more of our new food stamp recipients have not received food stamps in five years or more," said Beth Rubin, director of job and family services. "That tells me that we are definitely seeing an increase in the people who are in need," With pantries and other safety-net assistance programs in dire shape, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks, said "We are asking these (presidential) candidates, if (they're) elected, to increase funding for the food stamp programs, increase the money allocations to allow people to purchase the food they need. This is a crisis and we need a government response."

9. Maine Poverty Symposium Focuses on Hunger
(WCSH, October 28, 2008)

A symposium in Maine last week brought together state and national leaders to talk about the challenges of hunger, affordable housing and energy. D.C. Hunger Solutions' director Alex Ashbrook participated with state leaders to focus on "changing policies" to get to the causes of poverty. Hunger, said Ashbrook, often hides, and affects communities in many ways. "It's…people skipping meals, moms not eating properly so their children can eat. Or school districts not having snow days because they know that kids need to get to school to participate in free meals." One solution to the state's hunger problem: getting more residents to access federal nutrition programs like food stamps. More jobs, wage increases, and affordable health and child care were some of the additional poverty solutions discussed.

10. Canadian Experts Cite "Huge" Return on Investment for Poverty Reduction Programs
(Toronto Star, October 21, 2008)

Canada is not immune to the current global economic crisis, which requires that the country take immediate action through poverty reduction programs, especially "immediate counter-cyclical measures" which can "trigger an economic stimulus." Current rising unemployment promises to halt consumer spending; unemployment benefits and other assistance programs in the country have "significantly eroded in the past 15 years." In this op-ed, Ontario economists and officials praise poverty reduction programs not only for their short-term benefits but also for their huge return-on-investment for Ontario's future. In order to stabilize spending, consumer purchase power and confidence needs to be restored through investing in low-income Ontarians, and work must pay a "living wage." "[P]overty robs people of their health, their hope, and their potential. We cannot afford such losses" because "Ontario, and Canada, needs all hands on deck now to prepare for our future," write the commentators.

11. Income, Food Availability Contribute to Different Life Expectancies in Various Baltimore Neighborhoods
(Baltimore Sun, October 16, 2008)

Data released by the Baltimore Health Department shows a twenty-year difference in life expectancy between West Baltimore's low-income Hollins Market neighborhood and the upscale Roland Park neighborhood. Heart disease and stroke death rates for some impoverished neighborhoods are more than twice as high as those in affluent areas. "At the extreme, the difference in mortality rates between some neighborhoods is as wide as the disparity in life expectancy between the United States and a Third World nation such as Burma," according to the article. City Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein commented on the data, saying "The scale of differences is definitely eye-opening." The study does not indicate causes of the difference, and although the city's poorer neighborhoods tend to be African-American, there was not a strong relationship between African-American density and lower life expectancy, said Caroline Fichtenberg, project leader and the city's chief epidemiologist. According Fichtenberg, income and other factors show a stronger relationship. Residents lived 3.4 years longer for every increase of $10,000 in income. Although the city's overall life expectancy has increased from 69.2 years to 71.8 years, "we have some very sick communities," said Mayor Sheila Dixon, citing a number of factors such as economic development, education, outreach and food choices as reasons for the gap.

12. Denver Sees More Homeowners and Men Apply for Food Stamps
(Denver Post, October 22, 2008)

Denver food stamp requests rose 35 percent in September 2008 over the same month in 2007, and Arapahoe County saw a 30 percent increase in food stamp applications from July though September this year as the economic crisis expands. However, food stamp workers have noticed a higher number of male applicants in Denver, and more homeowners who are "uncertain how to deal with deteriorating economic conditions" seeking help at the Arapahoe County office. Sharon Svendson, interim director of the Douglas County human resource office, has noticed more families eligible for food stamps who "don't want to use an (electronic food stamps) card because it's embarrassing." However, they will accept Medicaid. "[I]f it comes to health care for their kids, they swallow their pride," said Svendson. Douglas County has ranked among the country's top counties in median family income for years. Yet the county food bank has experienced a spike in demand, to the extent that shelves have been bare except for some rice, peanut butter, and bread. Rick Donahue, a construction worker recently laid off from his job, said "This is the most destitute, scary feeling I've ever had in my life. And here we are in Douglas County, one of the richest in the nation."

13. Job Layoffs Send More to Food Stamps, Other Assistance
(Orangeburg Times Democrat, October 19, 2008)

Agencies and organizations in Orangeburg, South Carolina are seeing increased requests for assistance, including food stamps and unemployment benefits, due to higher rates of job layoffs and people out of work. The County's unemployment rate in August was 12.7 percent, which raised requests for unemployment insurance benefits. The County's Department of Social Services (DSS) has a full waiting room each day, and DSS director Harold Williams said there's been an increase in food stamp applications as well as requests for rent and utility bill assistance. "We have more and more people trying to apply for family assistance... There are also more and more people there for light bills and rent," said Williams. DSS caseworkers have close to 600 applications from individuals seeking food stamps.

14. More Texas Families Look to Free- and Reduced-Price Lunch for Assistance
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 14, 2008)

Lisa Wolfe, the mother of a Mansfield middle-schooler, has been out of work since losing her job last November. For several weeks, her 14-year-old son was reading a book instead of eating lunch until the family was approved for free- and reduced-price lunch. "We eat one meal a day, and that's dinner," she said. Her family didn't qualify for the school meal program until her unemployment benefits ran out. "Child support is enough to cover most all of my bills," said Wolfe, "but there's not enough left for gas and groceries." Mansfield's administrator of the free- and reduced-price lunch program, Debbie Wooten, has presided over 5,000 applications for the program in the first month and a half of this school year. Last year, during the same time, 3,600 applications were processed, and Wooten said the usual jump in number is 500. The increase in Arlington School District's numbers have caught the eye of administrators. Although not huge, according to the district's food and nutrition services director Jackie Anderson, the number has risen 1.5 percent over last year's total; by October 1, 2008, 37,525 children were receiving free- and reduced-price lunch. "I have noticed that there are definitely more zero incomes," said Anderson. It is too early to tell whether the number of children on free and reduced-price lunches will change with the economy's downturn, say federal officials. But, more households are receiving food stamps - an increase of 9 percent in July from the same time last year - and children in these households automatically qualify for free school lunches. "One of the beauties of the programs we work with here is they're designed to be flexible. So, should the need increase - parents will need to apply - but the school lunch program is there for them to do that," said Jean Daniel, a spokeswoman for the USDA.

15. USDA Honors Anti-Obesity Public Service Initiative
(Secretary´s Annual Honor Awards Program, October 22, 2008)

At the 61st Annual USDA Secretary's Honor Awards, Jean W. Daniel and Pat Seward with Food and Nutrition Service were recognized for "Improving the Nation's Nutrition and Health." Group leaders Daniel and Seward, along with 21 group members, worked on the "Good Nutrition Can Lead to Great Things" project, which was cited "[f]or leading the development of public service advertising designed to promote awareness of the need to balance healthy nutrition and daily physical activity in MyPyramid.gov, to combat the epidemic of obesity." The initiative, produced in cooperation with the Ad Council, featured ads that used characters from Disney's "The Jungle Book" to promoting healthy eating and the USDA food pyramid.

16. Obesity, Diabetes Responsible for Rise in Premature Births in U.S.
(Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2008)

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a rise in the rate of premature births in this country, possibly due to rising obesity, diabetes and hypertension rates, all preventable conditions. However, this is where the country fails; according to Dr. Ann O'Malley at the Center for Studying Health System Change, "We as a nation place less emphasis on primary care and prevention than a lot of these other industrialized democracies do that have lower rates than we do," she said. The U.S. infant mortality rate, 6.86 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005, ranks the United States well behind other developed countries, in spite of spending more on healthcare. For the latest year in which data is available from all countries (2004), the U.S. ranked 29th in the world in infant mortality, tied with Poland and Slovakia. In 1960, the U.S. ranked 12th. African-American women experience a higher rate of infant mortality in this country - 13.63 per 1,000 births - and Cuban Americans have a lower rate than the rest of the country - 4.42 per 1,000 births. Infant mortality rates in twenty-two countries are below 5 per 1,000 births, and Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore have rates below 3.2.

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