Capital Area Food Bank of Texas Blog » Nourishing Hungry People and Leading the Community in Ending Hunger Capital Area Food Bank of Texas Blog

Memorial Day Weekend Shopping Can Help End Hunger

May 25th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

You’re probably looking forward to a long weekend of BBQ, hanging out with friends and family and taking advantage of some great holiday sales. But before you hop in your car or pull out your wallet, consider these two opportunities to make your dollar do more in the community

Shop at H-E-B or Central Market and Help End Hunger

Look for $1, $3, or $5 donation tags when you check out at your local H-E-B or Central Market. To make a donation, simply choose the amount and it will be added to your grocery bill. Funds collected benefit CAFB and our Partner Agencies. And don’t worry if you can’t make it to H-E-B this weekend. This campaign runs from now through the end of June.

Do your online shopping at shopCAFB.com.

With shopCAFB.com, it’s free to donate. Yes, free! Featured vendors on the site have agreed to donate a percentage of their sales to the Food Bank on your behalf. Get the best deals this holiday weekend with your favorite online retailers including Target, Groupon, Amazon.com, iTunes, Sephora and many others while giving back.

shopCAFB.com is also a great way to support local business including GiveRealty, Cars and Coffee, Good4Texas and many others who are committed to ending hunger in Central Texas. But you need to start your shopping with shopCAFB.com for this to work. We only benefit when you click on the links from the site. Bookmark it, share it and pin it so you don’t forget.

From all of us here at the Food Bank, thank you for your support and have a safe and happy weekend!

Combat hunger, and you’ll combat other health issues.

May 25th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that in a country as prosperous as ours, no one should be hungry. Food is a basic right, and we seemingly have enough to go around.

Yet even with 1 in 6 Americans struggling with hunger, members of Congress will still spend much of this year arguing over the level of support for programs for the hungry in our country.

Lost in the discussions about personal responsibility, government’s role and many other philosophical battles, is evidence that certain food patterns over time lead to health problems.

Hunger isn’t just a social issue; it’s also a health issue.

Hunger can lead to malnutrition — commonly defined as “faulty nutrition due to inadequate or unbalanced intake of nutrients.”

This is not only a situation of insufficient food, but also insufficient healthy food. And as hunger is often a symptom of poverty, those who cannot purchase nutritious food on a consistent basis can suffer from malnutrition and other health problems. This, in the end, means we all pay for it.

A recent Center for American Progress study estimates that health costs from hunger have now reached $130 billion annually.

The report states that “malnourishment compromises the immune system, making hungry and food insecure people more susceptible to disease.” And this is only the beginning of the costs.

Sick adults miss more work, costing productivity dollars.

Sick children miss school, which can lead to poor grades and academic failure, costing potential future workforce opportunities and earnings.

In addition, lower school attendance rates can cost our schools, as funding is tied to attendance.

Surprisingly, some hungry people are also overweight.

This occurs when access to fresh, nutritious food is difficult and expensive, and only calorie-dense and nutrient-poor food is available.

Coupled with changing social patterns, including lack of exercise, many Americans today are overweight and, increasingly, obese.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of U.S. adults and about 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 are obese.

This causes many to be at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

The good news is there is an answer.

Just as considerable attention has centered on preventative health measures — from tobacco cessation programs to more city green spaces — there should also be an investment to end hunger, improving our nation’s health at the same time.

The investment involves changing our food systems.

First, make healthy food more accessible, affordable and sustainable.

It shouldn’t be a challenge to find reasonably priced fresh produce in the No. 2 agricultural-producing state in the country.

Much of the cost of food is the transportation. Growing food closer to home and teaching others how to do it well is cheaper and healthier.

Second, teach more best practices, such as how to shop, cook and eat healthy food.

Nutrition education should start in kindergarten and continue throughout high school.

Children should know that their chicken didn’t come in a Styrofoam package but from a farm (hopefully down the road).

Third, continue the investment in our federal nutrition programs. Programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) give hungry people more purchasing power to buy food. Just as with any family pocketbook, data indicate that SNAP recipients also tend to buy healthier food early in the month, when their food budget is at its highest.

By working together, we can start to repair a broken food system that compromises the health of many.

Hunger is a health issue, and it is time we started seeing it as one.

Austin Reggae Festival Brings Relief to Summer Hunger

May 22nd, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Once again, the Austin Reggae Festival continues to be the #1 fundraiser for the Food Bank and a great time for Reggae lovers. More than $225,000 was raised through donations and ticket sales, a 10% increase from last year! Your generosity allows us to provide 562,000 meals for hungry Central Texans, and just in time for our busiest time of the year. Thank you to the organizers of Austin Reggae Festival, Austin Chronicle, Planet K and the 300 volunteers who helped make this event a success.

We hope to see you in 2013 on Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21 for next year’s festival. For complete details, visit www.austinreggaefest.com

Action Alert: Tell Congress to get their priorities straight – hungry people matter.

May 18th, 2012 § 1 comment § permalink

Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives sent a strong message to American people they serve: poor and hungry people are not a priority. They voted to slash SNAP (food stamp) funding by $36 billion, and cut other social service programs that protect the poor and hungry from malnutrition and poor health.

We’re not fully on our way to economic recovery as yet and our Food Bank and Partner Agencies have not seen the reduction in need. In fact, we’re preparing for a long, busy summer to help nourish hungry children while school is out and they don’t have access to free and reduced-price lunches.

It will take time for families to recover from the economic slowdown. This isn’t the time to reduce spending in SNAP and other nutrition programs. We need your help to ensure that these premature cuts in funding will not result longer lines at pantries across Central Texas and a longer recovery for needy families struggling to get back on their feet.

Take Action:

Please visit the Farm Bill Feedback form online, and send a message to the House Agriculture Committee. Or use our online form to send an e-mail to Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, and deliver this message:

As a supporter of my local food bank, I am writing to share my concern about hunger in Texas. With unemployment still high and many Americans still struggling to make ends meet, anti-hunger programs are helping many of our neighbors just put food on the table.

Nearly 50 million Americans are living in food insecurity. While food banks, churches, and pantries are doing great work in our community, charity alone cannot meet the need for food assistance.

Congress should do its part by continuing to support anti-hunger programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), all of which are authorized in the Farm Bill.

Cutting anti-hunger programs will increase hunger in America. Given the associated health care and educational costs of hunger and poor nutrition, cuts to anti-hunger programs are short-sighted.

I ask you to please remember the families who are struggling in our country, and urge you to protect and strengthen important anti-hunger programs like TEFAP, SNAP, and CSFP in the 2012 Farm Bill reauthorization.

Hunger is unacceptable.

Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please email Kathy Green, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at kgreen@austinfoodbank.org

Every voice matters.

“Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive Delivers More Than 105,000 Pounds of Food

May 18th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 20th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. As part of the nation’s largest single-day food drive, generous Central Texans and U.S. letter carriers delivered hunger relief by providing more than 105,000 pounds of food this past Saturday.

Letter carriers and volunteers were also on hand at H-E-B stores in Austin to receive donations.

Our volunteers are busy inspecting and sorting donations so we can get them out as quickly as possible to our Partner Agencies. There’s still time to help! Sign up online for a volunteer shift.

Now through June – The All Mighty Dollar is Back at H-E-B

May 17th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Summer is a special time at H-E-B because your dollar can do much more than simply purchase grocery items. Your dollar can take on special powers – to uplift families, make the summer joyful for children, and give hope to older adults in times of need.

Look for the $1, $3, and $5 tear off coupons at the register to transform your regular ol’ dollar into a hunger-fighting dollar. Simply choose the amount you want to donate, and it will be added to your final grocery bill.

Donations at Austin-area stores will help nourish hungry Central Texans in your community and every dollar really adds up. Last year $88,000 was raised.

A special thank you goes to our long-time partner, H-E-B for their sustained commitment and partnership in the fight against hunger.

Summer Meals That Matter: A campaign to raise 500,000 nutritious meals.

May 15th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

In Central Texas, summertime means hot days spent cooling off at our favorite swimming holes, family vacations, and backyard cookouts. For too many families, summer time is a financially difficult time of year, with rising gasoline prices and soaring electricity bills stretching budgets to their limits. Worse, many young children will not have access to free and reduced price lunches through the public schools, leaving their parents to struggle to meet that nutritional gap when their household budgets are already so fragile.

At the Capital Area Food Bank, we believe no child should go hungry. That is why we are launching our Summer Meals That Matter campaign. Join us by helping us meet our goal of raising 500,000 nutritious meals to ensure that children, families and older adults have the food they need all summer long.

Please help us spread the word and donate today.

Top 3 Ways to Make Your Mamma Proud

May 11th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Mother’s Day is this Sunday. There’s no better way to make your mamma proud than by heeding the advice she’s drilled into you all of these years. Here are our top three ways to make mom smile.

Help others eat their vegetables. If you’ve grown to love corn, beets, or spinach as an adult, your mom may have had something to do with it. Spread the love by filling your Stamp Out Hunger Bag with healthy foods, including canned vegetables. Mom always said to eat a balanced meal, so we’re sure she would approve if you threw in some tuna, beans, rice or soup to the mix. Leave a bag or two of food at your mailbox on Saturday morning , and letter carriers will ensure the food gets into the hands of hungry Central Texans. You can also drop off your donation at these Austin Area H-E-B stores:

Westlake 701 South Capital of Texas Highway, West Lake Hills, TX
Brodie 6900 Brodie Lane, Austin, TX
Pleasant Valley 1820 Pleasant Valley, Austin, TX
Braker 10710 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759

Give a gift that won’t make her smile through gritted teeth. Avoid the bad gift syndrome this year by getting your online gift through shopCAFB.com. So, even if mom doesn’t love that “Cougar Mom” coffee mug, she will appreciate that you used shopCAFB.com, which supports the Capital Area Food Bank’s efforts to provide meals for families in need.

Help other moms in need. Mother’s Day is not just about thanking your mom, but also honoring the often difficult and thankless role of motherhood. Our four-part series “A Mother’s Hunger” highlights the struggles low-income mothers face in Central Texas and around the nation. What better way to acknowledge the sacrifices your mom has made, than by making an online gift in honor or memory of your mother. With your gift, we can provide mothers who come to us in their time of need with nutrition support, education, and access to vital social service programs like SNAP and the Summer Meals program.

A Mother’s Hunger Part 4: Social and Public Policy Recommendations

May 10th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Tiffany, Gwendolyn and Cheri’s stories show that the millions of low-income mothers just like them have huge barriers to overcome. But there is hope. With strong public policy and social change, we can begin to address and reverse the long-term effects of hunger and poverty. Below are our recommendations.

Support WIC and keep it funded for the health and nutrition and health benefits. WIC was created in 1972 and permanently authorized in 1974 to enhance the nutritional status of low-income mothers and their children. More than half of all U.S. infants and a quarter of all U.S. children ages one to five receive WIC benefit which accounts for a mere seven percent of U.S. Food and Nutrition Program expenditures. The program is a proven success in improving birth outcomes, diet and diet-related outcomes, among other improved outcomes translating into cost savings on health care. However there is still room for improvement such as increased support for breastfeeding, expanded nutrition education and improved coordination of medical service referrals for mothers who may be depressed, have health issues, or need domestic violence support.

Support federal nutrition programs targeting children. In addition to WIC, there are several nutrition assistance programs specifically designed to provide children with access to healthy food. For mothers, these programs make it possible to afford healthy food at home, access quality child care, and ensure their children are well nourished, healthy and ready for life-long learning. You can learn more about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), Farmers Market Nutrition Program, School Meals, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Feeding Program on the USDA website.

Support social policies that improve economic security while taking into account the responsibilities and challenges of motherhood. Job security for mothers, especially single mothers is at risk when they are the primary caretaker of their children. Policy improvement at could include higher minimum wage, paid sick leave/dependent care, flexible work schedules, affordable child care, paid maternity leave, and expanding the benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Support programs that provide nutrition intervention and support for low-income mothers. After-school enrichment programs, nutrition education classes for children and parents, and other early intervention programs can provide mothers with the knowledge and social support they need to make better decisions for their families.

Reform social service programs and policy to support coordinated care. Studies have shown that WIC, while primarily a nutrition program, has helped to screen and reference women who may need domestic violence assistance. This study calls for a national task force that includes representation from the USDA, Department of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban development, and Labor to address food insecurity among children. By support an umbrella approach to screening low-income women for other services, we can begin to support the household instead of simply treating the symptoms.

What would you change?
What policies or reforms have we left out? What is your vision of a well-nourished and cared for single mother household?

A Mother’s Hunger Part 3: The Hunger/Trauma Ripple Effect

May 9th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

We met Cheri at First United Methodist Church Pflugerville food pantry. Cheri and her fourteen-year-old son had been living with her best friend and roommate (who also owns the home) when her mother, escaping an abusive relationship, moved in, along with a couple who had been living with them.

Right about the time that this happened, her roommate lost his job. Cheri and her son relied on her roommate’s income to get by, but with three newcomers without any additional income things got tough really fast. “With six people in the house, it made it difficult to eat,” Cheri said.

She eventually moved out.

Cheri has been unable to work since a car accident left her disabled more than ten years ago. She has lung disease. Her son recently suffered a serious injury after being hit by a car as he was riding his bike to school. The concussion and hospitalization has left her son traumatized. “One thing after another keeps happening, ” she said.

Cheri has reached her breaking point and knows that she needs the help of others to get by right now.

“I’m a perfect example of someone who needed help. I’m the face of a family who had a bad situation, but I had someone to help hold my hand.”

Fact: Food insecurity has psychological and physiological effects for mothers including higher levels of stress, eating disorders, depression and reduced breastfeeding.

Studies show that hunger and household food insecurity can negatively affect the mental health of low-income women and their children. While mothers may choose to forgo food to protect their children from hunger, the unfortunate consequence is that the children, while nourished with food, may experience other hardships because the mother is not mentally or physically well enough to care for her children. Children may become anxious, depressed, aggressive, or display other behavioral problems that may leave them susceptible to mental health problems as they reach adulthood.

Low-income mothers are less likely to breastfeed than those in higher-income households. The stress of food insecurity, coupled with social barriers to breastfeeding (i.e. no access to lactation consultants and breast pumps, lack of maternity leave, lack of workplace support for breastfeeding, lack of social acceptance) makes it difficult for poor mothers to adhere to the Surgeon General’s recommendation to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. These mothers then need to rely on the additional expense of formula to nourish their infants – further limiting the food budget and adding to household food insecurity. Even for mothers receiving support from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, social barriers to breastfeeding prove to be a powerful force and rates of breastfeeding are lower than of non-WIC women.

In part four, we’ll conclude with public policy recommendations to support the unique challenges mothers face and how we could improve the health and well-being of single-mother headed households.