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. Economic Stimulus Must Include Those on Bottom Rung of Poverty
(Seattle Press-Intelligencer, December 12, 2008)
President-elect Obama's economic recovery plans must not only target the millions of middle class slipping, or about to slip, into poverty, but must "include support for the millions who are slipping from working poverty to abject poverty," states this op-ed. more than 37 million Americans lived in poverty in 2007 - which means 12.5 percent of the population lived on $21,200 or less a year. These "terrifying statistics" don't count this year's financial struggles in which 1.9 million Americans became unemployed, Between August 2007 and August 2008, food stamp caseloads rose by 2.6 million people. Consequently, food stamps, rental assistance, extension of unemployment benefits and aid to state governments must be part of the economic recovery. The op-ed refers to an earlier piece by University of Massachusetts economist Robert Pollin, who wrote that economic stimulus must include job creation and increasing the economy's long-term capacity, not government belt-tightening. "Recessions create widespread human suffering," noted Pollin. "Minimizing the suffering has to be the top priority in fighting the recession…By stabilizing the pocketbooks of distressed households, these measures also help people pay their mortgages and pump money into…markets."
2. Expert Notes Food Stamps Boost Economy
(KWCH, December 11, 2008)
Dr. Anita Raghavan of the Kansas Campaign to End Childhood Hunger urges needy residents to sign up for and use food stamps - called the Food Assistance Program in the state. "One food stamp dollar has the economic impact of three dollars in the community," said Dr. Raghavan. "It brings more money into the economy." She encourages to apply, especially since many eligible people are missing out on the program.
3. New York's Basic Welfare Not Enough, Governor Promises Increase
(New York Daily News, December 18, 2008)
If New York Governor Paterson's promised increase in basic welfare, delivered in his "bad-news budget speech," comes through, it will be the first boost the state's poorest residents will have had in 18 years. Basic welfare offers cash to those who don't qualify for Social Security, disability or other benefits; a single person with no children receives $215 each month for rent and $137 for expenses. Columnist Errol Louis points out that there's no place in the state where that amount of money will cover rent, food, transportation and other costs. Doug Lasdon, executive director of the Urban Justice Center, said, "people run out of their food stamps at around halfway through the month, and they run out of their cash grant literally within days." One man Lasdon visited eats one small meal a day and is constantly hungry. Lasdon recently filed a class-action lawsuit against the state, arguing it's illegal not to raise basic welfare, citing Article 17 of the state Constitution: "The aid, care and support of the needy are public concerns and shall be provided by the state."
4. States and Counties See Skyrocketing Food Stamp Numbers
Maryland
(Baltimore Sun, December 8, 2008, story available through archives; Appalachian Independent, December 7, 2008)
Anne Arundel County had the largest increase in food stamps in the state, jumping 26 percent from November 2007, when 15,700 people received the benefit, to November 2008 which saw food stamps go to more than 19,800. The Department of Human Resources reports that 389,300 in Maryland are currently in the Food Stamp Program. Allegany County's rising food stamp application rate mirrored its rising unemployment rate; the Maryland Monthly Labor Review (released by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations) showed the unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent to 5.9 percent in October, while the county's Department of Social Services (DSS) has seen record numbers of applicants for food stamps, a good indicator of how much people are hurting from the economy and high food and fuel prices. "We're receiving record amounts of applications from people who have never applied for food stamps before," said DSS assistant director William Walker. The numbers climbed from August, with 360 applications, to September's 411 applications, and Walker estimates "October's totals are well above 400."
Wisconsin
(WQOW, December 4, 2008)
The state's Food Stamp Program experienced a 20 percent increase in recipients over the past year, with 201,000 households enrolled in FoodShare as of October, up 33,000 households from the previous year. Rea Holmes, spokesperson for the state's Department of Health Services, said the increase is caused by the economy as well as changes to qualification rules. The department recently eliminated the requirement that recipients go through job training prior to qualification. Applicants can also apply now online.
North Carolina
(digtriad.com, December 19, 2008)
Crowds wait for the doors to open at the Forsyth County Department of Social Services. Last year, employees were seeing 60 to 70 food stamp applicants in the waiting room per day. "[W]e thought that was high," said Artetta McKinney, program manager for Food and Nutrition Services."We're averaging over 100 a day currently," she added.
Florida
(CBS12.com, December 9, 2008; CBS12.com, December 15, 2008)
The state has seen its food stamp numbers jump 45 percent since April 2007, according to a state official who announced a new Web site designed to help with the increase. The Web site also will provide Medicaid and temporary cash assistance services. Currently, food stamps go to 1.7 million Floridians. State budget problems have kept the Department of Children and Families (DCF) from hiring extra staff to handle the increased caseloads for food stamps and other services. DCF closed offices in Riviera Beach and Delray Beach. As a result, librarians at a Riviera Beach branch are seeing an increase in the number of people visiting the library to use the computers and sign up online. Librarians offered ideas to help make signing up as smooth as possible - including bringing change to print registration confirmation and filling out hard copies of forms to use the limited time available on the computers more efficiently. They also advise people to expect that the application process will take about 30 minutes.
Tennessee
(The Tennessean, December 2, 2008)
Layoffs, job hour cutbacks, gas and food prices, and the "dire economic conditions" drove household food stamp numbers to rise 9.5 percent from January to October in Tennessee. Davidson County experienced a 9.3 percent increase in households, and Rutherford, Cheatham and Wilson Counties saw more than 15 percent increases, due to fast growing communities with increasing unemployment. "It's the highest it's ever been, and it is people we've not seen before," said Michelle Mowery Johnson of the state's Department of Human Services (DHS). Dale Gray, executive director of MANNA Inc. in Nashville, noted "There's some people who have moved in with relatives because they've lost a home or been evicted, and of course they need help, but then the relatives they've moved in with also need the help." Bellevue resident, disabled Iraq veteran and carpenter Tony Clifford applied for food stamps after the housing meltdown and construction slump. He's downsized life for him and his three-year-old son by moving into a smaller home and cancelling cable, Internet and phone service. People who want to apply for food stamps can visit the DHS office, call (866) 311-4287, or visit http://state.tn.us/humanserv/.
5. Northeast Ice Storm Prompts Disaster Food Stamp Relief
(Newsday, December 18, 2008)
Lower-income New Yorkers in 16 counties hit by the December 2008 ice storm will be eligible for disaster food stamps, according to Gov. David Paterson. The benefit will help those residents who had food spoil while power was out.
6. Survey to Help Gauge County's Hunger Issues
(Blue Mountain Eagle, December 10, 2008)
A "hunger assessment" survey was sent to Grant County residents with their water and sewer bills. Officials have recently found that some nutrition programs are underutilized as the economy crashes, and the survey will help "gauge the county's hunger issues." Dana Brooks, director of the Grant County Commission on Children and Families (GCCCF) learned there is $500,000 in food stamp benefits unused by residents; the benefit could help those struggling with household budgets and provide an economic boost to the community. Extra funds also exist for the summer youth feeding program which "increases (children's) access to nutritional food during the summer." "It's our job to look at the gaps and needs in our community and connect with other resources in the community to put programs in place to fill the needs," said Brooks
7. Arizona Seniors on Waiting List for Food Plus
(KVOA, December 10, 2008)
Some Arizona seniors who have been on Food Plus [the Commodity Supplemental Food Program] for years were recently told they may not get it next year while others have been put on a waiting list, due to the demand. Joy Tucker, of the Community Food Bank [which administers and distributes Food Plus], explains that "We have been asked by the federal government to reduce the caseload." Food Plus pays for 4,400 people, but 4,800 people, struggling through the current economy, have signed up. Those on the list can expect to wait several months before getting their box of food again. "For a senior who's on a fixed income," said one recipient, "this is very difficult."
8. NFL Player Promotes Healthy Eating in Children
(Milford Daily News, December 17, 2008)
New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris teaches preschoolers in Massachusetts about healthy eating through the NFL's Nutrition for Life campaign.
Morris said this program hits home for two reasons: He believes in the importance of being healthy, and he supports the Women, Infants and Children program, one of the campaign's sponsors. Morris' family benefitted from WIC. When he was in college on a scholarship, he wasn't allowed to work because of NCAA rules. Morris married and the couple had a daughter while he was still in school. The healthy food bought for his daughter through WIC "really helped us out," he said. Morris now travels to schools and gives lessons on nutritious foods and physical exercise, recently telling one group of youngsters at Shining Star Childhood Center that apples, bananas and exercise keep him going after getting tackled in a game.
9. Increased Demand May Break California's School Meal Budget
(Los Angeles Times, December 3, 2008)
Increased demand for free and reduced-price lunch means that California might run out of money again to supplement school meals, says state superintendent Jack O'Connell. The state contributes 22 cents to the federal government's reimbursement of $2.17 to $2.57 for each free or reduced-price lunch. O'Connell called for the governor and legislature to provide $31.1 million from the general fund to prevent a repeat of the previous school year when funds ran out by May; estimates show the funds will run out earlier this school year. Although exact numbers aren't available for this school year, the 2007-08 school year saw California schools serving 4.5 percent more free and reduced-price meals than the previous year and numbers have continued to rise. However, school breakfasts in the L.A. Unified School District only go to 30 percent of elementary and 50 percent of secondary school students who receive free or reduced-price lunch, according to the district's assistant director of food services David Binkle. But those numbers are an improvement, thanks to offering breakfast during recess and "grab and go" carts in the halls. "A lot of children are not hungry when they wake up," said Binkle, and noted "Most districts that don't provide breakfast say the issue is administrative - getting cafeteria staff to work earlier in the morning, getting custodians to clean up after breakfast, possibly shifting bus schedules. We need to do a much better job of teaching school officials what the evidence [for breakfast] is…that [it] helps children learn and behave better, among other benefits."
10. Economy Drives Rise in Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Numbers
(KIMA, December 15, 2008)
In Wapato School District in Washington State, more than 90 percent of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, a number up 10 percent over the last year. "More families are suffering from the financial crisis," explained Charles Wheaton, the school district's executive director for support of operations. "We have big crowds for breakfast," said third grade teacher Vivian Rhocha, as more families have trouble putting food on the table and are bringing their children to school earlier to advantage of free breakfast.
11. School Districts in Michigan Offering Free Breakfast
(Times Herald, December 5, 2008)
Michigan's Crosswell-Lexington and Carsonville-Port Sanilac school districts are two of the four districts in the state to start offering free breakfast for all students. The meals come at a time when increasing numbers of families are unable to afford breakfast, and state officials are encouraging that breakfast be provided. School superintendents also want to remove any stigma attached to receiving free and reduced-price breakfast, and school officials cite evidence that school breakfast helps children learn and reduces behavior problems. Since so many students these districts qualify for free or reduced-price meals, the federal subsidy will cover the cost of offering breakfast to everyone, said the superintendents. "It is just the right thing to do," said Kevin Miller, Croswell-Lexington superintendent. "It pays for itself, so why would we not do it?" The school districts are looking at expanding the free breakfast program to older students next year.
12. Fast-Food Ad Ban Could Reduce Number of Overweight Children
(Seeking Alpha.com, December 9, 2008)
A study of American TV measuring the number of weekly hours of fast-food advertising viewed by children suggests that a ban on such advertising during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children (age 3-11) by 18 percent and overweight adolescents (age 12-18) by 14 percent. The study, which found a link between advertising and childhood obesity, used data from the 1979 Child-Young Adult National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (both from the Department of Labor), was conducted for the National Bureau of Economic Research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, and completed by university economists. In addition, the study found that ads for fast-food have more of an effect on males than females, and that "elimination of tax deductibility tied to advertising would…produce declines in childhood obesity…at a smaller rate of five to seven percent." The authors question, however, whether a ban is a practical option, as it would involve a "high degree of government involvement - and the costs of implementing such policies." Other countries that have banned such advertising are Sweden, Norway, and Finland, according to the study.
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