Read hunger stories just like Lee Ann's and share your story at http://www.austinfoodbank.org/cwaustin/

Hey there! My name is Lee Ann. You may recognize me as one of the finalists from the CW STAR Austin. It’s been an exciting opportunity so far, especially after the long road it’s taken to get here. My life hasn’t always been so flashy. In fact, I spent the better portion of it struggling to make ends meet. That’s why I’m writing today—to show my support for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and everything they do for people like you and me.

I grew up in a single-parent home. My mom was divorced with two kids by the time she was 22. She did the very best she could with no support and it wasn’t easy. I can remember many times there was nothing in the fridge to eat and somehow my mom would always find a way to feed us. She had many “creative” recipes that didn’t taste great, but because she made meal-time so much fun, we often thought we were dining on a 5-course meal.

There was “make your own pizza” night, which amounted to finding whatever was in the fridge, piling it on a bagel or piece of bread and toasting it. My sister and I knew dinner wasn’t going to be tasty, but I still remember how much fun we had making “pizzas” together and laughing at our toppings. Breakfast for dinner was always my favorite. I never realized that we were eating pancakes and eggs because all we had in the house was eggs, mix and water. I just knew that my mom made the best Mickey Mouse pancakes on the planet! I’m certain I’m not the only one who had “gourmet ramen noodles” growing up. You could buy 5 for $1.00—that’s 10 meals! My sister and I would figure out all sorts of recipes for turning up the flavor on these cheap noodles. I also remember, at one point, the only thing in our fridge was a jar of pickles, so my sister and I drank the pickle juice! Where we grew up, the tap water had a sulfur taste to it and if you’ve ever smelled sulfur, it smells like rotten eggs! Needless to say, the pickle juice won. It’s funny, a bar downtown offers “pickle shots:”a shot of vodka followed by a shot of pickle juice. Every time I see someone taking one of these, it reminds me of those days growing up as a hungry kid.

When I was fifteen, I moved out of my house and lived with a few other teenagers. We were a rag-tag crew of kids who didn’t have the best living situations, but had each other. In order to feed ourselves, we had to get food stamps. Even though we were all working, it wasn’t enough to survive on our own—perhaps you know this, but working kids don’t exactly make a living wage. Without the help of food stamps, I don’t know how we would’ve made it.

Now that I’m older, I consider my story a badge of honor. I wasn’t handed life on a silver platter and I had to struggle to survive in this world. Most of the people that hear about my life can’t imagine not having a pantry filled with snacks, let alone having to make it on their own at fifteen. What’s even more impressive to people is that I may have grown up with nothing, but now, I’ve owned several homes and even went back to school to pursue a career in broadcasting.

It’s sounds cliché, but it is true; my experience made me who I am today. I don’t take things for granted. I’m a hard worker. I respect and appreciate my mom for all the struggling she did raising two incredible daughters on her own. Most importantly, I have empathy for others, because even though I may enjoy a bit of success, I remember where I came from.

The reason I’m sharing my story with the world is to say “You are not alone!” There are so many of us who grew up hungry or had families in need of assistance. Nowadays, with the economy the way it is, I’m certain there are many more. Don’t be ashamed of your circumstances, it is what it is. The fact is, it doesn’t matter where you start out in life, what matters is how you finish.

Thank you for listening to my story and for joining me in supporting Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. Hunger is unacceptable!

Learn more at http://www.austinfoodbank.org/cwaustin/

Seth Hancock, a photographer and filmmaker from Los Angeles, CA, was asked to make a documentary about a subject that a) didn’t interest him and b) he knew nothing about or had ever given it one minute of his time. The topic: Senior Citizens and Hunger.

“To be honest, I rarely think about being a senior and I have never known what it’s like to go hungry a day in my life. But the more and more I kept wanting to turn this project down, the more and more I felt compelled to take a journey and discover why I have never cared and how real the problem of senior hunger is in America,” Seth shared.

Seth and his videographer have been traveling around the country since January including stops in Los Angeles, CA, Booneville, KY, Orlando, FL, Washington D.C. and Detroit, MI. He then realized that he needed “a little something different in the film to provide some depth and dimension.” His research led him to the Food Bank.

Seth and his videographer Phil in Austin

For three and a half days, CAFB’s team shared what senior hunger is like in Central Texas through the eyes of our President & CEO, CAFB’s food rescue team, social service coordinators, nutrition educators, volunteers supporting outreach in Lometa, TX and by talking to the seniors themselves.

“I cannot express how impressed I am with this group and, once again, confirmed that I had hit a “home run” with them. They wanted to show off all the great things they do and I have to admit that it was a sight to see. Thanks for letting us show the world what you and many other people, groups and organizations are doing to feed the seniors of America,” said Seth.

Stay tuned for an upcoming film showing in Central Texas. We can’t wait!

The Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board would love for every resident to enjoy safe, nutritious locally, and sustainably-grown food – at a reasonable price, particularly for residents in need.

You can help SFBP achieve this vision and prioritize their efforts by participating in their upcoming Food Chat on Sunday, October 23. This is a great opportunity for you to share the hunger message with those who will help advise policymakers at the county and city level. Our own Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Kathy Golson, sits on the board.

When:
Sunday, October 23, 2011
1:30-2:30: Food Chat Activities
2:30-4:30: SFPB Meeting + opportunity for Citizen Communication

Where:
5604 Manor Road, Third Coast Activist Resource Center, Austin, TX 78723.
Free daycare provided.

Contact:
Erin Flynn, SFPB, 512-949-9831

Download a flyer in English or Spanish.

More About SFPB:
This advisory body to the City Council and Travis County Commissioners’ Court addresses the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably-grown food at reasonable prices for all residents, particularly those in need, by coordinating the relevant activities of city government, as well as non-profit organizations, and food and farming businesses. Meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month 12:30-2:30 at Austin City Hall. Public is encouraged to attend.

In August, I sent my three kids back to school with all new school supplies, lunchboxes, clothes, and even haircuts.  All those new things don’t guarantee good grades, but signify putting our best efforts forward for the new school year.  And just the ritual of getting ready for the start of school is exciting itself.

As a single mom of three, I definitely have a tight budget, and getting my kids ready for school was expensive. But it was an investment I couldn’t afford not to make.  And beyond the morning discussion of whether they “take or buy lunch” that day, I don’t worry about them being prepared for school with a full stomach.

Too many parents today however, have this worry, and are making some difficult choices.  Deciding whether to buy milk and bread or pay the electric bill; whether to feed your child breakfast or fill the car with gas so you can get to work that morning.

In a recent report from Feeding America, over 25% of the children in the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) 21-county service area live in a food insecure household.  This means that 1 in 4 don’t know where they will get their next meal.  Some of these children will receive school meals at a reduced price or for free, but still go home every evening and weekend to an empty fridge.

As a society, we strive to meet the ideal of taking care of our children.  In fact, we uphold this value so much that the penalties for committing a crime are often enhanced whenever the victim is a child.  We make special laws to keep them safe—whether they are car seats or cell-free school zones.  “Our children are our future” is a favorite phrase of politicians.  However, a basic need and right that supports their future—food—is absent for way too many.

A hungry child is not just a growling belly.  They become a statistic—a discipline statistic, a truancy statistic and sometimes a drop-out statistic.  The lack of consistent and healthy food affects their physical and mental health, behavior and ability to learn.  Ask any teacher, and they can likely tell you who in their class had breakfast that morning and who didn’t.  Being “ready to learn” is not just about completing last night’s homework; it is also about being adequately nourished.

CAFB works to do our part because of the 48,000 Central Texans we are serving each week, 20,000 are children.  We just completed our second year as a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program, a federal program that enabled us to provide 36,000 free meals for children this summer. Our Kids Cafe program continues to expand and now operates from 34 sites year-round, feeding children after school.

Hunger is a consequence of poverty and until it releases its grip on our country, it will continue to take a combination of efforts—CAFB programs, a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, school meal programs, donations, other government nutrition programs, and yes, the best endeavors of their parents—to help feed these children.  Take one part away and you tear a large hole in the hunger safety net.

Unfortunately, Congress is considering cuts to critical nutrition programs in that safety net which helps families feed their kids.  If funding is cut, hunger relief organizations alone will not be able to fill the hole.

The other night, my kindergartener tackled his first “homework” assignment, and we sat where we always do—the dinner table.  Our round, pine table is pretty worn—from the dents of my daughter’s handwriting practice to the glue and glitter of her sister’s last art project.  That table has also seen many loads of laundry, bills, family “discussions” and many, many meals.  And for that, we are fortunate and thankful.

There is no reason in a community such as ours that any child’s dinner table should be empty.  All of our children deserve to go back to school with everything they need to succeed—whether it be a full backpack or a full stomach.

by Tracy Kwang

I recently began a research internship at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. As part of my orientation, I was sent to help stock shelves at one of their food pantries located in the poorest parts of Austin.

Now, I will preface by saying I knew VERY LITTLE about poverty in Central Texas. As a graduate student, I am very insulated from class disparities. In the working environment, everyone around me is extremely well-educated and have a world of job prospects open to them. Even when my dad supported my mother and me on just his graduate stipend while I was growing up (and yes, that actually economically counts as living in poverty level), he knew financial relief was coming in a few years and worst case scenario, a small loan from my grandparents was only a phone call away. In my current social environment, even those who are not as highly educated are well off – whether it is due to their affluent background, or if it is because they have decent-paying jobs in a service industry. Even the friends I have who meticulously cut coupons can afford an occasional glass of wine or beer out. All that is to say, I have NO CLUE what it means to not have enough for food, and to not know if I’ll ever have enough to provide for my basic biological needs.

Even when I started learning about poverty in Central Texas, it was in the form of numbers and statistics. For example, 48,000 people in Central Texas alone rely on food pantries to eat. Almost half of that number consists of children. These people regularly experience the physical pain of hunger and have to choose – on a weekly basis – between filling that hunger with food, or paying for utilities and shelter. That is heart-wrenching enough, but still it seems less real when the problem is so abstract. (More facts can be found here).

I arrived at the pantry this morning, prepared to help stock dozens of shelves with food they will distribute tomorrow. I was dismayed by how little food there was to stock. Apparently, the economy is hit hard right now, and people are giving the little resources they have to the victims of the Bastrop Fires. Which is great, since those victims have a real, immediate need. But what I didn’t realize is there is a steady contingency of hungry people in Austin who are overlooked as a consequence.

This specific food pantry feeds about 140-180 people each week. We finished stocking, and I was shocked when the director looked at the few shelves lined with food and concluded with sadness “well at least we have enough to feed 130 people this week.” How much food was she referring to? Let’s just say my mother stocked more in our garage during the Y2K scare. Furthermore, the filled shelves could actually physically fit into my tiny Austin studio. The choices were canned corn, canned peas, cans of mixed fruit, canned peaches, applesauce, some potatoes and meat. That’s it. This is what 130 people will survive on this week.

I drove home to a nice lunch of salmon and asparagus, and felt sick to my stomach knowing that tomorrow, 10-50 people less than a mile from me will find out they have nothing to eat this week. Yet here I am spending my money on pretty clothes, wine, fancy makeup, expensive haircuts…in short, things that are not crucial for survival. Now I’m not necessarily advocating denying yourself of any niceties and pleasures and giving all your money away; I realize that our economy is a much more complicated system than that. But it definitely gives me pause about the way I think about my money and how I spend it.

I’m not sure what to conclude about all this as this is an issue I’m still processing through. I will say I am glad I got involved with CAFB. And that although I do feel called to international ministry of some sort, I am beginning to see that the same brokenness and the same disparities exist next door to me, even in such an affluent city as Austin.

About Tracy

Tracy, a native of Novi, Michigan in the Detroit metro area, is a graduate student at the University of Texas and is working to complete her Ph.D. in social psychology this spring. This semester, Tracy is working with CAFB’s development team. In her free time, Tracy loves being outside and near the water, and exploring Austin’s world cuisine offerings. She is also a yoga instructor at Yoga Yoga and Castle Hill Fitness. She is interested in the nonprofit sector, having previously volunteered with SafePlace, Austin Children’s Shelter and Casa Marianella. In the future, she can see herself working in policy research or program evaluation for a nonprofit. Check out her blog Living in Grace.

All across America, children will be asked a familiar question as soon as they walk through the school door in the fall: What did you do this summer?

For children lucky enough to travel to new places, visit relatives, or go to camp, that first day back on campus is an easy opportunity to be proudly share adventures. For others, the question may be followed by an awkward moment of silence. Through our Summer Food Service Program, the Food Bank works with many community partners to provide a fun and healthy summer for children, hopefully resulting in some cool summer stories for them to take back to school. Thanks in part to a $20,000 Hunger-Free Summer Grant from the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America, Austin-area children at 30 sites enjoy balanced nourishing lunches and snacks to fuel them through a day of arts and crafts, play and other activities.

On Wednesday, country singer-songwriter, Josh Kelley, visited one of the summer food program sites, the Boys and Girls Club of the Austin Area, to serve lunch, participate in arts and crafts, and sing with the children.

Photo by Jack Plunkett for ConAgra Food Foundation

Justice Phillips arrived with his hand-crafted guitar for an impromptu Jam session with Josh. Austin music scene, watch out for this one!

Photo by Jack Plunkett for ConAgra Food Foundation

“Through the generosity and ongoing support of partners like ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America we expect to serve 40,000 lunches to children over the course of the summer,” said Hank Perret, CAFB President & CEO.

Josh plays his hit song "Amazing" for the children. Photo by Jack Plunkett for ConAgra Food Foundation

View more photos from this event on our Flickr album.

In collaboration with Chef David Bull, the Food Bank is hosting a special event to kick off our Summer Food Service Program, which nourishes hungry Central Texas children during the summer months when school is out of session. Today, Susan Gayle, host of “Food Love Austin,” speaks with Chef Bull about his project and how he’s using his “Iron Chef” skills to give back to the community. Tune in to 91.7 FM today at 2 p.m. for this special interview.

Takeaways:

1. Child hunger in Central Texas is 365 days a year.
2. Hunger makes learning difficult for children.
3. Advocating for proper implementation federal programs at the state level is one of several strategies that helps CAFB provide nutritious food for Central Texas children in need, and respond to seasonal increases in demand for food assistance.

With summer just around the corner, our Partner Agencies are bracing for a surge in the number of children they’ll serve. In our Hunger in America 2010: Central Texas Report, 43 percent of the pantries, 29 percent of the kitchens and 14 percent of the shelters said that they serve more children in the summer.

Through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), federal funding is available to states for local organizations like CAFB to implement a summer food program in their community. This year, the Food Bank increased participation in the program by hosting 30 sites in Travis county, up from 23 the prior year. For the more than 77,000 students from economically disadvantaged families in Travis county with incomes less than 185 percent of the poverty level, SFSP is an important safety net for children and provides them with proper nutrition needed for learning and good health. Along with Kids Cafe, CHOICES nutrition education program, and SNAP outreach, SFSP participation broadens our ability to nourish the 20,000 Central Texas children relying on our services each week.

Federal funding, insufficient number of sites, limited hours of operations, poor outreach, and transportation issues, have resulted in poor participation. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), only 12 percent of children participating in the National School Lunch Program also participate in SFSP.

In Central Texas, participation is not much better than the state average. In our Hunger in America 2010: Central Texas Report 7.1 percent of households with at least one child younger than age 18 reported that they participate in the Summer Food Service Program. Nearly one third of those households said they don’t participate in the program because they didn’t know about it.

H.B. 643 introduced by State Representative Eddie Rodriguez amends the current law relating to SFSP by requiring a school district in which 50 percent or more of the students are eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-priced lunch program under federal law to provide or arrange for the provision of a SFSP for at least 30 days, unless a waiver has been granted by TDA. Under the current law, a school district in which 60 percent or more of the students are eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-priced lunch program are required to provide or arrange for a summer food program.

Last week, President and CEO, Hank Perret testified in support of H.B. 643. Below is an excerpt of his testimony:

Just because the schools are out, does not mean that hunger is out of session. In fact, contrary to popular belief, summer is the busiest time for the Food Bank, because hungry children don’t have access to regular meals at school. This year, we are expanding our summer program to 30 sites and expect to serve 40,000 meals.

The summer food service program is an underutilized lifeline for the millions of children at risk of hunger in Texas. In 2010, although three million children in Texas were eligible to receive summer meals, only 12 percent did. This bill will remove some of the barriers for these children by increasing the number of sites where they can receive a nutritious meal alongside fun, educational activities. The national child nutrition group, FRAC, estimates that if Texas were to increase participation to just 40 percent, we would draw down an additional $45 million federal dollars each year, all of which would be invested locally in food and programming for these hungry children.

The Summer Meals program is a strong, public-private partnership that marries the best in federal resources with educational and nonprofit community sponsors. We are proud to support Commissioner Staples’ drive to increase participation in this program, and this bill is a great place to start.

You can read the entire testimony here and learn more about the bill and the fiscal note on the Texas Legislature website.

We know that there is no “safe” level of inadequate nutrition for healthy, growing children. This is based on human biology – bodies conserve the limited food energy that is available. The first priority is for critical organ functions, then growth. The last biological priority is for social activity and learning. Short-term nutritional deficiencies – a missed breakfast, an inadequate lunch — impair children’s ability to function and learn. (Source: IMPACT OF SCHOOL BREAKFAST ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND LEARNING – November 17, 2008 by Dr. J. Larry Brown, Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. William H. Beardslee, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Harvard School of Public Health, Commissioned by the Sodexo Foundation)

Be the voice for hungry Texas children. Call your representative today in support of H.B. 634. Visit our website to find your representative and to sign up for action alerts. Learn more about child hunger in Central Texas by visiting HungerIsUNacceptable.com.