Yesterday, End Hunger CT! hosted its annual toy gift wrapping party. The party is held each year around this time to provide SNAP (formerly Food Stamp) clients and others in need with toys for their children for the holiday season. Toys are provided through the United Way’s "Joy of Sharing" and distributed to many different organizations throughout the state for toy give-aways. The EHC! party is held right here in the office with food, drink, music, and cheer. Parents pick out toys, books and games of their choosing with the option of having them wrapped by an EHC! staffer. This one day reminds us how people struggling with food are very often struggling with other needs, such as heat, and the holidays add one more log to the fire. Just as no one should have to go a day without food, no child should have to go a Christmas without a little something extra special.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
-Winston Churchill
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Connecticut Food Bank: Feeding Connecticut Conference September 2008
Every two years the Connecticut Food Bank hosts a state conference in order to bring together all of its member food programs and organizations. CFB members include CFB staff, food pantry members, advocacy groups, and other organization designed to help feed CT residents and fight hunger in the state. Each year’s conference includes speakers, workshops, and the chance for CFB members to share information, raise awareness, and provide support for each other.
This year, in celebration of Hunger Action Month, the conference was held on September 16th at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Meriden, CT. As a University of Connecticut Dietetic Intern, I was honored to have been provided the opportunity to attend such a powerful event. This year’s guest speaker, Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD Deputy Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University, spoke to the attendees on how home, neighborhood, and school environments shape eating attitudes and behaviors, with a focus on childhood obesity.
Throughout the course of the day, those in attendance were given the opportunity to participate in their choice of three workshops. Of the extensive topic list, I chose to attend “Nutrition” presented by Judy Prager, RD, CD/N, Dietitian for New Opportunities, Inc. In this workshop tips for bargain shopping and low cost-recipe ideas were provided so that healthful, creative tips may be relayed to clients. In the “Taking Action” workshop, Lucy Nolan, Director of End Hunger CT! and Mary Ellen McGuire, CFB Development Director lead an inspirational discussion that included ideas of how to successfully advocate and approach state and local legislators in order to meet the needs of the people your program serves. The final workshop I chose to attend was “Grant Writing” in which Kate Walton, CFB Programs Director and Mary Ellen Martin, CFB Grants Coordinator provided expert advice of how to located grant funders and write an effect grant.
Even though door prizes, including tickets to meet country music artist and CFB spokesperson Phi Vassar, were awarded, the highlight of the day’s events was a video interview between Nancy Carrington, CFB Executive Director and Connecticut’s US Representative Rosa L. DeLauro. Congresswoman DeLauro provided passionate responses to questions concerning the 2008 Farm Bill, the Supplemental Food Assistance Program formally know as Food Stamps, Child Nutrition Programs, as well as global food issue and how the US is affected.
Overall, the conference proved to be a fantastic learning experience and a great opportunity to meet and talk with wonderful people all of whom share a common goal of ending hunger in the state of Connecticut.
Liz North
UCONN Dietetic Intern
This year, in celebration of Hunger Action Month, the conference was held on September 16th at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Meriden, CT. As a University of Connecticut Dietetic Intern, I was honored to have been provided the opportunity to attend such a powerful event. This year’s guest speaker, Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD Deputy Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University, spoke to the attendees on how home, neighborhood, and school environments shape eating attitudes and behaviors, with a focus on childhood obesity.
Throughout the course of the day, those in attendance were given the opportunity to participate in their choice of three workshops. Of the extensive topic list, I chose to attend “Nutrition” presented by Judy Prager, RD, CD/N, Dietitian for New Opportunities, Inc. In this workshop tips for bargain shopping and low cost-recipe ideas were provided so that healthful, creative tips may be relayed to clients. In the “Taking Action” workshop, Lucy Nolan, Director of End Hunger CT! and Mary Ellen McGuire, CFB Development Director lead an inspirational discussion that included ideas of how to successfully advocate and approach state and local legislators in order to meet the needs of the people your program serves. The final workshop I chose to attend was “Grant Writing” in which Kate Walton, CFB Programs Director and Mary Ellen Martin, CFB Grants Coordinator provided expert advice of how to located grant funders and write an effect grant.
Even though door prizes, including tickets to meet country music artist and CFB spokesperson Phi Vassar, were awarded, the highlight of the day’s events was a video interview between Nancy Carrington, CFB Executive Director and Connecticut’s US Representative Rosa L. DeLauro. Congresswoman DeLauro provided passionate responses to questions concerning the 2008 Farm Bill, the Supplemental Food Assistance Program formally know as Food Stamps, Child Nutrition Programs, as well as global food issue and how the US is affected.
Overall, the conference proved to be a fantastic learning experience and a great opportunity to meet and talk with wonderful people all of whom share a common goal of ending hunger in the state of Connecticut.
Liz North
UCONN Dietetic Intern
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Senior Shift
Anyone who works promoting participation in the Food Stamp Program is bound to see a lot of seniors. After all, a good percentage of eligible seniors don’t take advantage of the program, so targeting them is a priority. It’s pretty easy to locate and identify potential recipients through senior centers and housing sites and as an outreach worker I visit many on a regular basis.
The tough part is that thanks to the safety net provided by the combination of social security and subsidized housing, many low-income seniors only qualify for the minimum benefit. That translates into a $10.00 monthly food stamp allotment for a large percentage of them.
The usual response to $10.00 in food stamps? “Too”…too much trouble, too much paperwork, too little money.
Lately though, I’m seeing a shift. It’s nothing earthshaking, mostly a blip on the social Richter scale, but enough to be noticeable. Some seniors have come to the conclusion that at least it’s “something.” Maybe they can’t buy an awful lot more, but it could be an extra milk, eggs and bread. That “something” might just make the difference between buying some fresh fruit and vegetables this month or not. Considering the rising burden of inflation, that $10.00 might be just the “something” they need.
The good news is that the minimum benefit is scheduled to increase this October….the first time in 30 years. The new minimum: $14.00. It will also be indexed to the maximum benefit to assure future increases are in line with inflation. Now that really is “something.”
PTC
The tough part is that thanks to the safety net provided by the combination of social security and subsidized housing, many low-income seniors only qualify for the minimum benefit. That translates into a $10.00 monthly food stamp allotment for a large percentage of them.
The usual response to $10.00 in food stamps? “Too”…too much trouble, too much paperwork, too little money.
Lately though, I’m seeing a shift. It’s nothing earthshaking, mostly a blip on the social Richter scale, but enough to be noticeable. Some seniors have come to the conclusion that at least it’s “something.” Maybe they can’t buy an awful lot more, but it could be an extra milk, eggs and bread. That “something” might just make the difference between buying some fresh fruit and vegetables this month or not. Considering the rising burden of inflation, that $10.00 might be just the “something” they need.
The good news is that the minimum benefit is scheduled to increase this October….the first time in 30 years. The new minimum: $14.00. It will also be indexed to the maximum benefit to assure future increases are in line with inflation. Now that really is “something.”
PTC
Monday, August 25, 2008
Support Nutrition Education programs in CT! --Linda Drake
In my last entry, I touched on the complex issues that surround nutrition education and access to healthy affordable foods. I’d like to dig a little deeper into the importance of continued and increased funding for programs like EFNEP.
EFNEP in Connecticut only has six community-based educators located in Hartford, New Haven and Windham counties. They are dedicated and hard-working. Some of the things they teach are exploring food attitudes, shopping skills, reading labels, food safety and food preparation. EFNEP participants have fun, try new foods, learn new skills and make changes to help them feed themselves and their families better. Sometimes we work with parents and kids cooking together. In Connecticut, about 96% of EFNEP participants make at least one positive food behavior change. They even spend less on food, while buying more nutritious foods.
The problem is funding! Across the nation, EFNEP programs are limited and reach less than 2% of their potential audiences. Food Stamp Nutrition Education is also available to food stamp recipients, but it has not had the documented success that EFNEP has…yet its funding is about 5 times higher! Studies on EFNEP cost benefit have shown that for every dollar spent for EFNEP, anywhere from $3.00 to $10.00 can be saved on health care costs.
My soapbox – CT needs state funds for effective food and nutrition education for low- income families. State funds could then be used as match to apply for more federal funds for nutrition education. The amount of money that companies spend on food advertising boggles the mind – in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet nationally, EFNEP gets about $68 million, and Connecticut’s budget is in the same ballpark as Maine, Oregon and North and South Dakota – states with very different demographics than Connecticut! Massachusetts has more than twice the federal funds for EFNEP than we do. Representative Rosa DeLauro is a great champion for EFNEP and has helped us get increases in recent years. But still, the funding allowed for in 1969 was $92 million! Obviously, Congress doesn’t understand how hard it is to make ends meet, and how hands-on, personal food and nutrition education experiences can make a real difference. I cannot ask our legislators, at either the state or national level, for funds because I am a state employee. But you can! If you want to chat about this more, respond to this blog.
EFNEP in Connecticut only has six community-based educators located in Hartford, New Haven and Windham counties. They are dedicated and hard-working. Some of the things they teach are exploring food attitudes, shopping skills, reading labels, food safety and food preparation. EFNEP participants have fun, try new foods, learn new skills and make changes to help them feed themselves and their families better. Sometimes we work with parents and kids cooking together. In Connecticut, about 96% of EFNEP participants make at least one positive food behavior change. They even spend less on food, while buying more nutritious foods.
The problem is funding! Across the nation, EFNEP programs are limited and reach less than 2% of their potential audiences. Food Stamp Nutrition Education is also available to food stamp recipients, but it has not had the documented success that EFNEP has…yet its funding is about 5 times higher! Studies on EFNEP cost benefit have shown that for every dollar spent for EFNEP, anywhere from $3.00 to $10.00 can be saved on health care costs.
My soapbox – CT needs state funds for effective food and nutrition education for low- income families. State funds could then be used as match to apply for more federal funds for nutrition education. The amount of money that companies spend on food advertising boggles the mind – in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet nationally, EFNEP gets about $68 million, and Connecticut’s budget is in the same ballpark as Maine, Oregon and North and South Dakota – states with very different demographics than Connecticut! Massachusetts has more than twice the federal funds for EFNEP than we do. Representative Rosa DeLauro is a great champion for EFNEP and has helped us get increases in recent years. But still, the funding allowed for in 1969 was $92 million! Obviously, Congress doesn’t understand how hard it is to make ends meet, and how hands-on, personal food and nutrition education experiences can make a real difference. I cannot ask our legislators, at either the state or national level, for funds because I am a state employee. But you can! If you want to chat about this more, respond to this blog.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Nutrition Education to Help People Save Money? – Linda Drake
People need all the help they can get these days to be able to eat. The food assistance programs that End Hunger CT works with are vital to give folks either actual food, like the summer food program for kids, or food stamps to help them buy more food. But I think that helping people learn more about the food they eat, how to choose food for better health AND save money at the same time can be important, too. While the dollar menus are tempting, do they really save money if you’re feeding a family? At what cost to health?
Nutrition education is criticized because it hasn’t proven it works. But the major force that works either for or against nutrition education is the complex food environment in which people find themselves and how it has influenced them over time; the attitudes and values they hold as a result of that complex environment; and their ability and willingness to make choices that go against the tide.
Most of us know what we SHOULD be eating, but it’s the doing it that is hard. We all choose food because we like it. Other reasons are that it’s available, affordable, and we know how to prepare it. Now, with food costs going up so fast, people rely on cheap food to fill their cupboards and their stomachs. These include easy-to-fix or ready-to-eat processed foods that are high in fat, sugar and/or salt but low in important vitamins, minerals and fiber. These foods contribute to obesity, and increase risks for heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
I am the director of a federal food and nutrition education program (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, or EFNEP) that works with low-income families and kids in targeted areas throughout the state. EFNEP is a USDA nutrition education program that has shown improvements in food behavior and knowledge, but this is after a series of several contact hours, within the community, and in-depth, personalized, hands-on, interactive education (usually involving some tasting of nutritious foods) conducted by educators who understand the issues that people face daily.
Effective nutrition education like EFNEP, when combined with access to food assistance programs, can help people maneuver their food environments better and can improve their health and well-being.
CT EFNEP information – including publications to download
National EFNEP information
CT Food Policy Council- great recipes for CT Grown foods
Nutrition education is criticized because it hasn’t proven it works. But the major force that works either for or against nutrition education is the complex food environment in which people find themselves and how it has influenced them over time; the attitudes and values they hold as a result of that complex environment; and their ability and willingness to make choices that go against the tide.
Most of us know what we SHOULD be eating, but it’s the doing it that is hard. We all choose food because we like it. Other reasons are that it’s available, affordable, and we know how to prepare it. Now, with food costs going up so fast, people rely on cheap food to fill their cupboards and their stomachs. These include easy-to-fix or ready-to-eat processed foods that are high in fat, sugar and/or salt but low in important vitamins, minerals and fiber. These foods contribute to obesity, and increase risks for heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
I am the director of a federal food and nutrition education program (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, or EFNEP) that works with low-income families and kids in targeted areas throughout the state. EFNEP is a USDA nutrition education program that has shown improvements in food behavior and knowledge, but this is after a series of several contact hours, within the community, and in-depth, personalized, hands-on, interactive education (usually involving some tasting of nutritious foods) conducted by educators who understand the issues that people face daily.
Effective nutrition education like EFNEP, when combined with access to food assistance programs, can help people maneuver their food environments better and can improve their health and well-being.
CT EFNEP information – including publications to download
National EFNEP information
CT Food Policy Council- great recipes for CT Grown foods
Monday, July 14, 2008
A Cow's Tale
Occasionally, it’s nice to leave your own pasture to see what’s going on elsewhere.
Last Wednesday (7/2), I had the chance to check out the greenness of the grass at the Hartford Summer Food Kickoff at Waverly Park. The best part: I got to do it, courtesy of the CT Deptartment of Agriculture, dressed as a cow! Not content to just play the cow, I became the cow.
Let me tell you, this cow was pretty impressed by what can only be described as organized chaos.
Over 150 kids were laughing, playing and having a great time. Between face painting, free books, games and a bunch of other fun activities, you couldn’t find a kid without a smile.
Yes, there were the inevitable “Got Milk?” questions, but what cow hasn’t heard that one before?
Best of all, there was the food. A nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack for every kid who came. The kids happily grazed on hotdogs, burgers, fruit, crackers, milk and juice. (At one point I thought I smelled roast beef….but that was just me, roasting in the sun).
For the parents, a two-for: Foodshare supplied a truckload of bread, onions and potatoes and the DSS Bus was on hand to take food stamps applications.
I’m told that this is only one of 70 sites in Hartford, where kids, 18 and under, can get free meals while school is out. All they have to do is come.
.
Looking out over the park, it’s hard to imagine that without the Summer Food program, a lot of theses kids might not get lunch or even breakfast for that matter. It makes a cow grateful for the hard work of the folks who make this program happen. Unfortunately this cow thinks that there is still a long way to go in eliminating the poverty that makes a program like this one so necessary……and that’s no bull.
PTC
Last Wednesday (7/2), I had the chance to check out the greenness of the grass at the Hartford Summer Food Kickoff at Waverly Park. The best part: I got to do it, courtesy of the CT Deptartment of Agriculture, dressed as a cow! Not content to just play the cow, I became the cow.
Let me tell you, this cow was pretty impressed by what can only be described as organized chaos.
Over 150 kids were laughing, playing and having a great time. Between face painting, free books, games and a bunch of other fun activities, you couldn’t find a kid without a smile.
Yes, there were the inevitable “Got Milk?” questions, but what cow hasn’t heard that one before?
Best of all, there was the food. A nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack for every kid who came. The kids happily grazed on hotdogs, burgers, fruit, crackers, milk and juice. (At one point I thought I smelled roast beef….but that was just me, roasting in the sun).
For the parents, a two-for: Foodshare supplied a truckload of bread, onions and potatoes and the DSS Bus was on hand to take food stamps applications.
I’m told that this is only one of 70 sites in Hartford, where kids, 18 and under, can get free meals while school is out. All they have to do is come.
.
Looking out over the park, it’s hard to imagine that without the Summer Food program, a lot of theses kids might not get lunch or even breakfast for that matter. It makes a cow grateful for the hard work of the folks who make this program happen. Unfortunately this cow thinks that there is still a long way to go in eliminating the poverty that makes a program like this one so necessary……and that’s no bull.
PTC
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Summer Food: What's Cool when it's Hot
It’s officially summertime and the kids are out of school and looking for things to do. Many Connecticut summer food programs began operation this week serving FREE breakfast, lunches, and snacks to kids. This year, Connecticut has 37 sponsors serving meals to kids across 39 towns.
More families will feel increased financial pressure this summer with the rising costs of fuel and food; it is important families are aware summer meal programs are FREE and available to ALL kids 18 and under. Summer meals provide the necessary nutrition kids need throughout the year to stay healthy. Many summer sites also offer activities, games, and raffles to keep kids engaged and active through the long summer months.
Three easy ways to find the site nearest you:
1.) Call Infoline 2-1-1
2.) View info on the CT State Dept of Education website by clicking here
3.) Call End Hunger CT! at (860) 560-2100 ext. 14
More families will feel increased financial pressure this summer with the rising costs of fuel and food; it is important families are aware summer meal programs are FREE and available to ALL kids 18 and under. Summer meals provide the necessary nutrition kids need throughout the year to stay healthy. Many summer sites also offer activities, games, and raffles to keep kids engaged and active through the long summer months.
Three easy ways to find the site nearest you:
1.) Call Infoline 2-1-1
2.) View info on the CT State Dept of Education website by clicking here
3.) Call End Hunger CT! at (860) 560-2100 ext. 14
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Farm Bill - Finally!
After months and months of votes and compromises, the Farm Bill passed the House and Senate. The bill was vetoed by the President, but there were enough votes to override his veto, only the second time that has been done during his presidency.
The bill increases spending on nutrition programs by $10.3 billion, including increasing the minimum benefit from $10 to $14. It would also index the assets limits to inflation, encouraging saving for food stamp recipients and increases the support for the emergency feeding organizations, including food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens.
This is a great step, but more needs to be done, especially in the current economic climate. For more information about the Farm Bill, please visit www.frac.org.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Legislative Update
The Connecticut legislative session ended on May 7th at
midnight, leaving many people disappointed in the results.
There were some successes during the short session,
but bills calling for funds did not get a vote. The Governor
and Legislative Leaders choose to make no mid-term
adjustments on our bi-annual budget, so new funds were
not allocated.
No Legislative outcome:
1) SB 339: An Act Concerning Child Nutrition
Programs - This bill would have increased participation in
the School Breakfast program through in classroom grants,
expand the summer nutrition program and would have
created a child nutrition outreach program at the State
Department of Education.
2) SB 415: An Act Concerning Appropriations for
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and
Grants for Emergency and Community Food Sites - This
bill allocated $ 2 million for the state's food banks to buy
protein food and vegetables to give to the our emergency
food sites.
Legislation of interest that passed the House and Senate:
1) HB 5536: An Act Establishing the Connecticut
Healthcare Partnership - This bill would open the state
employee health care insurance pool to municipalities,
nonprofits and small businesses with 50 employees or less,
and create cost savings. This bill passed both the House and
Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
2) SB 344: An Act Concerning Family Prosperity
and the Recommendations of the Child Poverty and
Prevention Council - One of the many parts of this bill
requires that the Department of Social Services establish a
Food Stamp Employment and Training and grant program
for providers who serve food stamp eligible recipients. This
bill passed both the House and Senate and is now awaiting
action by the Governor.
3) HB 5105: An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage
- This bill would increase the minimum wage to $8.00 in
FY09 and to $8.25 in FY10. This bill passed both the House
and Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
4) HB 5873: An Act Concerning the Face of
Connecticut Account Steering Committee and the
Preservation of Farmland - Face of Connecticut steering
committee established, which would be charged with
allocating a pool of funds through state grant programs.
5) HB 5658: An Act Concerning the Confidentiality
of Social Security Numbers - This bill requires any
business that collects personal information, which is
information that can be associated with an individual
through an identifier like a Social Security number, to have
a privacy protection policy and to safeguard the computer
files and documents containing it. The privacy protection
policy must: protect the confidentiality of Social Security
numbers, prohibit unlawful disclosure of Social Security
numbers, and limit access to Social Security numbers.
midnight, leaving many people disappointed in the results.
There were some successes during the short session,
but bills calling for funds did not get a vote. The Governor
and Legislative Leaders choose to make no mid-term
adjustments on our bi-annual budget, so new funds were
not allocated.
No Legislative outcome:
1) SB 339: An Act Concerning Child Nutrition
Programs - This bill would have increased participation in
the School Breakfast program through in classroom grants,
expand the summer nutrition program and would have
created a child nutrition outreach program at the State
Department of Education.
2) SB 415: An Act Concerning Appropriations for
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and
Grants for Emergency and Community Food Sites - This
bill allocated $ 2 million for the state's food banks to buy
protein food and vegetables to give to the our emergency
food sites.
Legislation of interest that passed the House and Senate:
1) HB 5536: An Act Establishing the Connecticut
Healthcare Partnership - This bill would open the state
employee health care insurance pool to municipalities,
nonprofits and small businesses with 50 employees or less,
and create cost savings. This bill passed both the House and
Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
2) SB 344: An Act Concerning Family Prosperity
and the Recommendations of the Child Poverty and
Prevention Council - One of the many parts of this bill
requires that the Department of Social Services establish a
Food Stamp Employment and Training and grant program
for providers who serve food stamp eligible recipients. This
bill passed both the House and Senate and is now awaiting
action by the Governor.
3) HB 5105: An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage
- This bill would increase the minimum wage to $8.00 in
FY09 and to $8.25 in FY10. This bill passed both the House
and Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
4) HB 5873: An Act Concerning the Face of
Connecticut Account Steering Committee and the
Preservation of Farmland - Face of Connecticut steering
committee established, which would be charged with
allocating a pool of funds through state grant programs.
5) HB 5658: An Act Concerning the Confidentiality
of Social Security Numbers - This bill requires any
business that collects personal information, which is
information that can be associated with an individual
through an identifier like a Social Security number, to have
a privacy protection policy and to safeguard the computer
files and documents containing it. The privacy protection
policy must: protect the confidentiality of Social Security
numbers, prohibit unlawful disclosure of Social Security
numbers, and limit access to Social Security numbers.
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